10.1117/12.811907

摘要

Creating a versatile set of highly stable fluorophores capable of high emission rate is crucial to studies of the individual function of biomolecules. There are continuing efforts to increase the sensitivity of fluorescence. These efforts include modifications in the spectral properties of the probes, increasing the detection efficiencies of the instruments, or the use of amplification methods. Our previous results show that plasmonic-controlled fluorescence provides a novel physical mechanism to enhance fluorescence intensity, reduce blinking and increase photostability. The further development of fluorophore-metal interactions for single molecule detection requires defined structures. For example, we investigate the effects of the defined silver nanospheres fabricated by wet chemistry methods coupling to nearby organic fluorophores. Additionally, we are developing nanoparticles incorporated into the Quantum Dot (QD) system. Coupling between the plasmon resonance effect and the quantum size effect of the QD or the organic fluorophore may develop new aspects of nano-composite material systems and also widen applications for noble imaging probes.