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Shrink‐Induced Silica Structures for Far‐field Fluorescence Enhancements
Author(s) -
Lin Sophia,
Sharma Himanshu,
Khine Michelle
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
advanced optical materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.89
H-Index - 91
ISSN - 2195-1071
DOI - 10.1002/adom.201300180
Subject(s) - materials science , fluorescence , biomolecule , signal (programming language) , streptavidin , substrate (aquarium) , polymer , nanostructure , nanotechnology , optoelectronics , detection limit , optics , chemistry , composite material , biochemistry , physics , oceanography , chromatography , geology , computer science , biotin , programming language
Dense multiscale silica (SiO 2 ) micro‐ and nanostructures are fabricated on a pre‐stressed polymer film. This novel SiO 2 substrate serves as a robust platform to enhance the fluorescence signal of bound biomolecules. Through a combination of surface concentration, light scattering, and changes in the photophysical properties of the confined dye molecules, dramatic fluorescence signal enhancements (average = 116 times greater than on planar glass) and increased signal‐to‐noise ratio (76:1) are demonstrated with tetramethylrhodamine isothiocyanate (TRITC)‐conjugated streptavidin (STRITC) on SiO 2 structures. Enhanced detection sensitivity of STRITC over glass on the SiO 2 structures is achieved down to a detection limit of 11 ng mL −1 . Such significant fluorescence signal enhancements have importance in practical applications such disease diagnostics and surface sensing.