Benchmarking Smartphone Fluorescence-Based Microscopy with DNA Origami Nanobeads: Reducing the Gap toward...

Area of Science:

• Biophotonics
• Nanotechnology
• Mobile Health

Background:

• Smartphone fluorescence microscopy offers cost-effective, portable detection for various targets.
• Advancements in smartphone camera technology enhance mobile microscopy performance.
• Quantifying sensitivity is crucial for reliable point-of-need diagnostic tools.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify the sensitivity of smartphone-based fluorescence microscopes.
• To compare the performance of color versus monochrome smartphone sensors.
• To establish a method for evaluating minimum detectable molecules per spot.

Main Methods:

• Utilized DNA origami nanobeads with precisely controlled fluorophore numbers.
• Employed a smartphone-based fluorescence microscope setup.
• Compared sensitivity using single dye molecule brightness as a reference.

Main Results:

• Monochrome smartphone sensors demonstrated superior sensitivity compared to color sensors.
• Achieved a detection limit of approximately 10 fluorophores per diffraction-limited spot.
• Demonstrated the broad applicability of DNA origami nanobeads for sensor evaluation.

Conclusions:

• Monochrome smartphone sensors offer enhanced sensitivity for fluorescence microscopy.
• DNA origami nanobeads provide a versatile platform for quantifying optical instrument sensitivity.
• This approach advances the development of reliable, field-deployable diagnostic devices.