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11:56
Fluorescence Imaging with One-nanometer Accuracy (FIONA)
Published on: September 26, 2014
Resolution and enhancement in nanoantenna-based fluorescence microscopy
Hadi Eghlidi1, Kwang Geol Lee, Xue-Wen Chen
1Laboratory of Physical Chemistry and optETH, ETH Zurich, CH-8093 Zurich, Switzerland.
Nano Letters
|November 6, 2009
Summary
Scanning gold nanoparticles act as nanoantennas to boost emitter fluorescence. This study explores their use in microscopy, achieving 20 nm resolution and 30x fluorescence enhancement for single-molecule detection.
Area of Science:
- Nanophotonics
- Optical Microscopy
- Single-Molecule Spectroscopy
Background:
- Single gold nanoparticles function as nanoantennas.
- They enhance fluorescence of nearby emitters.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate scanning antenna-based fluorescence microscopy.
- Analyze the effect of gold nanoparticle diameter on fluorescence enhancement and spatial resolution.
- Determine requirements for single-molecule detection in dense samples.
Main Methods:
- Experimental studies of scanning antenna-based fluorescence microscopy.
- Theoretical studies using finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) calculations.
- Varying gold nanoparticle diameter.
Main Results:
- Achieved spatial resolutions better than 20 nm.
- Demonstrated experimental fluorescence enhancement up to 30 times.
- FDTD calculations accounted for tip shaft and sample interface effects.
Conclusions:
- Gold nanoparticle antenna diameter influences fluorescence enhancement and spatial resolution.
- The presence of a sample interface increases measured fluorescence enhancement beyond homogeneous environment predictions.
- This technique is promising for deciphering single molecules in dense samples.
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