Luminescence amplification strategies integrated with microparticle and nanoparticle platforms

The amplification of luminescence signals is often the key to sensitive and powerful detection protocols. Besides optimized fluorescent probes and labels, functionalized nano- and microparticles have received strongly increasing attention in this context during the past decade. This contribution introduces the main signalling concepts for particle-based amplification strategies and stresses, especially the important role that metal and semiconductor nanoparticles play in this field. Besides resonance energy transfer, metal-enhanced emission and the catalytic generation of luminescence, the impact of multi-chromophoric objects such as dye nanocrystals, dendrimers, conjugated polymers or mesoporous hybrid materials is assessed. The representative examples discussed cover a broad range of analytes from metal ions and small organic molecules to oligonucleotides and enzyme activity.