Interferometry and fluorescence detection for simultaneous analysis of labeled and unlabeled nanoparticles in...

A novel fluctuation spectroscopy technique based on interferometry is described. The technique, termed scattering interference correlation spectroscopy (SICS), autocorrelates the signals from the forward-scattered and transmitted laser light from nanoparticles (NPs) in solution. SICS has two important features: First, for unlabeled NPs with known refractive index, it analyzes not only the diffusion coefficient but also the effective cross section and concentration in a single measurement. Second, it can be combined with fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) for simultaneous analysis of labeled and unlabeled NPs. SICS is here demonstrated on unlabeled M13 phages and on unlabeled NPs with diameters of 210 nm down to 26 nm. It is also shown how the combination of SICS and FCS can be used to determine the fraction of fluorescent NPs in a mixture and estimate K(d) from a single binding measurement.