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Dielectric microspheres or microbeads can squeeze light into thesubwavelength scale via photonic nanojet (PNJ) focusing. This enables stronglight-matter interactions within its focus and induces extraordinary effectssuch as enhancements in light emission, signal collection and various otherapplications. However, critical challenges exist on how to efficiently andprecisely loading the studied objects into the desired location of the PNJfocusing, and subsequently measure the field and signal of interests preciselyand reliably. Such technique is currently missing. We present for the firsttime a unique microwell-decorated microsphere lens (u-well lens), with asemi-open microwell sample compartment directly fabricated on top of themicrosphere lens. The u-well lens confines PNJ in a semi-open microwell andallows passive trapping of individual micro-object into the PNJ focusing areawith high efficiency and spatial accuracy. We demonstrate that individualfluorescent microsphere of different sizes can be readily introduced to thedesignated location with loading efficiency >70% and generates reproducibleenhanced fluorescence signals with standard deviation better than that can bequantitatively measured. A comprehensive analysis on the optical properties ofthe u-well lens reveals the synergistic effect of field enhancement andcollection efficiency on the optical enhancement. We finally employ thisspecial microsphere lens for fluorescent-bead-based biotin concentrationanalysis. The results suggest a greatly enhanced sensitivity and highlyimproved detection limit, opening the door for its application in highlysensitive and quantitative detection.

Confining photonic nanojet in a microwell on microsphere lens for highly efficient light focusing, signal amplification and quantitative detection