Silver Fractal-Like Structures for Metal-Enhanced Fluorescence: Enhanced Fluorescence Intensities and Increased Probe Photostabilities

Substantial increases in fluorescence emission from fluorophore-protein–coated fractal-like silver structures have been observed. We review two methods for silver fractal structure preparation, which have been employed and studied. The first, a roughened silver electrode, typically yielded a 100-fold increase in fluorophore emission, and the second, silver fractal-like structures grown on glass between two silver electrodes, produced a 500-fold increase. In addition, significant increases in probe photostability were observed for probes coated on the silver fractal like structures. These results further serve to compliment our recent work on the effects of nobel metal particles with fluorophores, a relatively new phenomenon in fluorescence we have termed both metal-enhanced fluorescence [1] and radiative decay engineering [2,3]. These results are explained by the metallic surfaces modifying the radiative decay rate () of the fluorescent labels. We believe that this new silver-surface preparation, which results in ultrabright and photostable fluorophores, offers a new generic technology platform for increased fluorescence signal levels, with widespread potential applications to the analytical sciences, imaging, and medical diagnostics.     

Plasmonic Enhancement of Single-Molecule Fluorescence Near a Silver Nanoparticle

In this short paper, we reported the enhanced fluorescence from a single fluorophore bound to a 50nm silver nanoparticle. We found that on average the Cy5 molecules bound to metal nanoparticles are approximately 15-fold brighter than that of free dyes, and that single molecule lifetimes are shorter as compared to free fluorophores. The increased emission rate is primarily the result of local plasmon enhancement. These results demonstrate that the use of fluorophore-metal interactions can increase the brightness and photostability of fluorophores for single molecule detection.     

Metal-Enhanced Fluorescence Solution-Based Sensing Platform

In recent years our laboratories have reported the favorable effects for fluorophores placed in close proximity to surface immobilized silver nanostructures. These include; greater quantum yields, reduced lifetimes (increased photostability) and directional emission. However, while these findings are likely to find multifarious applications for surface assays based on enhanced fluorescence detection, a solution based enhanced sensing platform has yet to be realized. In this short, note, we show how SiO2-coated silver colloids, indeed provide for a solution based enhanced fluorescence sensing platform with a 3-5 fold enhancement typically observed.     

Quenched Emission of Fluorescence by Ligand Functionalized Gold Nanoparticles

A fluorescence-based detection scheme that uses ligand functionalized gold nanoparticles is proposed. The transduction scheme is based on the strong quenching of the fluorescence emission exerted by metallic surfaces on fluorophores positioned in their immediate vicinity (< 5 nm). Binding of fluorophore-labeled anti-biotin to biotinylated gold nanoparticles resulted in decreased fluorescence emission intensity. Subsequent competitive dissociation of labeled anti-biotin with D-biotin resulted in increased fluorescence emission intensity. These interactions occurred by means of specific molecular recognition because when the binding sites of anti-biotin were saturated with D-biotin prior to interaction with the gold nanoparticles; changes in the fluorescence emission intensity were not observed.     

金属表面荧光增强的物理增强机制

具有特殊形貌及构型的表面(如金属薄膜)能够使位于其邻近的荧光分子的荧光信号得到增强, 这种现象被称之为表面增强荧光(Surface Enhanced Fluorescence, SEF)。有关表面增强荧光效应的研究探讨已有许多报道,并先后提出了多种增强机理以试图理解和解释观测到的实验现象。本文将在总结归纳已有机理研究的基础上,从物理学的角度出发分析理解局域场增强、能量转移以及辐射衰减速率增加等理论模型,并对衬底表面与荧光分子之间的间距变化对增强效果的影响进行探讨。     

机械抛光铜金属表面对罗丹明的荧光增强效应

应用激光光谱学方法,研究了铜表面Rh6G分子的荧光增强效应对于金属衬底表面所形成的氧化层的依赖关系,探索了由于空气氧化而形成的氧化层在表面荧光增强效应中的重要意义和作用机理.实验采用罗丹明6G荧光探针分子,在532nm连续光激发下,研究机械抛光铜金属衬底在经历不同氧化时间,对吸附其表面的Rh6G分子的荧光增强效果.研究结果表明,适当控制金属样品表面的氧化时间,金属铜表面对若丹明分子的荧光发射表现出猝灭和增强效应.金属氧化层起到了隔离荧光分子与金属表面的作用,减弱了由于激发态荧光分子向金属转移非辐射能量和在金属表面诱导反向偶极子而产生的荧光猝灭效应,从而提高了纯金属铜表面荧光增强辐射行为.因此在微纳金属衬底的荧光增强效应研究中,采用适当的实验手段,精确控制隔离层间距,是表面增强光谱获取的重要途径之一.     

机械抛光铜金属表面对罗丹明的荧光增强效应

应用激光光谱学方法,研究了铜表面Rh6G分子的荧光增强效应对于金属衬底表面所形成的氧化层的依赖关系,探索了由于空气氧化而形成的氧化层在表面荧光增强效应中的重要意义和作用机理.实验采用罗丹明6G荧光探针分子,在532 nm连续光激发下,研究机械抛光铜金属衬底在经历不同氧化时间,对吸附其表面的Rh6G分子的荧光增强效果.研究结果表明,适当控制金属样品表面的氧化时间,金属铜表面对若丹明分子的荧光发射表现出猝灭和增强效应.金属氧化层起到了隔离荧光分子与金属表面的作用,减弱了由于激发态荧光分子向金属转移非辐射能量和在金属表面诱导反向偶极子而产生的荧光猝灭效应,从而提高了纯金属铜表面荧光增强辐射行为.因此在微纳金属衬底的荧光增强效应研究中,采用适当的实验手段,精确控制隔离层间距,是表面增强光谱获取的重要途径之一.     

Metal-Enhanced Fluorescence from Plastic Substrates

We report the first findings of Metal-Enhanced Fluorescence (MEF) from modified plastic substrates. In the past several years our laboratories have reported the favorable effects of fluorophores in close proximity to silver nanoparticles. These effects include, enhanced fluorescence intensities, (increased detectability), and reduced lifetimes, (enhanced fluorophore photostability). All of these reports have featured silver nanostructures and fluorophores which have been immobilized onto clean glass or quartz surfaces. In this report we show how plastic surfaces can be modified to obtain surface functionality, which in turn allows for silver deposition and therefore metal-enhanced fluorescence of fluorophores positioned above the silver using a protein spacer. Our findings show that plastic substrates are ideal surfaces for metal-enhanced phenomena, producing similar enhancements as compared to clean glass surfaces. Subsequently, we speculate that plastic substrates for MEF will find common place, as compared to the more expensive and less versatile traditional silica based supports.     

Testing Fluorescence Lifetime Standards using Two-Photon Excitation and Time-Domain Instrumentation: Fluorescein,Quinine Sulfate and Green Fluorescent Protein

It is essential for everyone working with experimental science to be certain that their instruments produce reliable results, and for fluorescence lifetime experiments, information about fluorescence lifetime standards is crucial. A large part of the literature on lifetime standards dates back to the 1970s and 1980s, and the use of newer and faster measuring devices may deem these results unreliable. We have tested the three commonly used fluorophores fluorescein, quinine sulfate and green fluorescent protein for their suitability to serve as lifetime standards, especially to be used with two-photon excitation measurements in the time-domain. We measured absorption and emission spectra for the fluorophores to determine optimal wavelengths to use for excitation and detector settings. Fluorescence lifetimes were measured for different concentrations, ranging from 10^??3 ??10^??5 M, as well as for various solvents. Fluorescein was soluble in both ethanol, methanol and sulfuric acid, while quinine sulfate was only soluble in sulfuric acid. Green fluorescent protein was prepared in a commercial Tris-HCl, EDTA solution, and all three fluorophores produced stable lifetime results with low uncertainties. No siginificant variation with concentration was measured for any of the fluorophores, and all showed single-exponential decays. All lifetime measurements were carried out using two-photon excitation and lifetime data was obtained in the time-domain using time-correlated single-photon counting.     

The Fluorescence Bioassay Platforms on Quantum Dots Nanoparticles

In this paper, we present the optical properties and the platforms on fluorescent quantum dots for biological labeling, biomedical engineering and biosensor in molecular imaging. Quantum dots possess several properties that make them very attractive for fluorescent tagging: broad excitation spectrum, narrow emission spectrum, precise tunability of their emission peak, longer fluorescence lifetime than organic fluorophores and negligible photobleaching. We describe how to take such advantages of quantum dots to develop the technology and employ it to build assay platforms. Finally, ultrasensitivity, multicolor, and multiplexing of the technology of semiconductor quantum dots open up promising and interesting possibilities for bioassay platform.     

Off-on Fluorescent Sensor from On-off Sensor: Exploiting Silver Nanoparticles Influence on the Organic Fluorophore Fluorescence

Turn-off fluorescence of organic fluorophore, 2-{[4-(2H-Naphtho[1,2-d][1,2,3]triazol-2-yl)-phenyl]carboxylic acid (NTPC), with metal ions (Fe³⁺, Cu²⁺, Pb²⁺) was converted into turn-on fluorescent sensor for biologically important Zn²⁺, Cu²⁺ and Fe³⁺ metal ions in aqueous solution at ppb level by exploiting strong fluorescence quenching phenomena of metal nanoparticles when organic fluorophores assembled in the vicinity of metallic surface. Amino acid attached phenolic ligands (L) were used as reducing as well as functional capping agents in the synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). The hydrogen bonding functionality of L facilitated the assembling of NTPC in the vicinity of metallic surfaces that leads to complete quenching of NTPC fluorescence. The strong and selective coordination of L with metal ions (Zn²⁺, Cu²⁺ and Fe³⁺) separates the NTPC from the AgNPs surface that turn-on the NTPC fluorescence. HR-TEM and absorption studies confirm the metal coordination with L and separation of NTPC from the AgNPs surface. Mn²⁺ showed selective red shifting of NTPC fluorescence after 12 h with all sample. Effects of different amino acid attached phenolic ligands were explored in the metal ion sensitivity and selectivity. This approach demonstrates the multifunctional utility of metal NPs in the development of turn-on fluorescence sensor for paramagnetic heavy metal ions in aqueous solution.

基于矩阵分析的STR荧光解谱技术

用多种荧光标记物进行STR检测时,由于荧光光谱的谱带展宽特性,各个荧光光谱之间有重叠部分,如何实现将相互重叠的各个波长上的能量有效利用起来,对提高荧光利用效率至关重要。本文给出了一种基于矩阵分析的数据处理方法,该方法在进行荧光探测前首先要对荧光谱进行光谱校正,即要得到每种所用标记染料受激发射荧光的光谱分布,根据光谱分布建立染料组合荧光信号矩阵,然后对矩阵进行归一,利用归一后的矩阵对所探测的荧光谱进行解谱,从而得到所期望的荧光谱图。理论分析和实验结果表明,该方法可以有效的利用各个波长的荧光光谱能量,并实现对不同荧光重叠谱的有效光谱解谱。     

金纳米薄膜的荧光光谱特性

采用电化学方法制备了胶体盒纳米球状颗粒,并利用自组装方法在石英玻璃村底上镀制了金纳米薄膜。在室温下测得其紫外-可见吸收光谱和荧光发射光谱。在吸收光谱中观察到两个吸收峰,其中610nm、处的吸收峰来源于凝聚金纳米颗粒纵向的表面等离子体共振。在荧光发射光谱中也观察到与纵向表面等离子体共振有关的长波段的发射峰。增加激励光强度或增加薄膜中金粒子散密度都将导致新荧光发射峰的产生．这表明金纳米薄膜中存在循环多重散射,并由此引发了荧光发射峰数目和强度的变化。     

有机分子隔离层对机械抛光金属银表面的罗丹明6G荧光增强效应的影响

采用物理吸附法,在机械抛光纯银表面引入对巯基苯胺(p-Amiothiophenol,PATP)分子充当隔离层,运用激光光谱学方法研究隔离层对位于银表面附近的罗丹明6G(Rh6G)分子的荧光增强效应影响。实验结果表明,未经PATP分子修饰的机械抛光金属衬底对Rh6G分子表现为猝灭效应,而经过PATP分子修饰后的银表面对Rh6G分子的荧光发射具有增强效应。根据局域表面等离子共振及辐射能量转移模型对实验观测所得结果进行了分析研究,结果表明,PATP有机分子隔离层的引入有效地减小了荧光分子与金属衬底之间的无辐射能量速率,提高了荧光辐射强度。     

抗菌素阿莫西林荧光分析法的研究

本文提出了阿莫西林（２Ｓ,５Ｒ,６Ｒ）－３,３－二甲基－６（Ｒ－）－（１）－２－氨基２－（４－羟基苯基）乙酰氨基－７氧化－４－硫杂－１氮杂双环（３,２,０）庚烷－２－甲酸三水化合物荧光分析的方法。并对影响阿莫西林荧光性质（光谱和光谱强度）的各种因素,包括ｐＨ值、表面活性剂的增效作用、无机离子的配合作用以其他介质条件等进行了较为详细的研究。实验结果表明,阿莫西林具有良好的荧光性质,在微碱性条件下荧光     

Fluorescence properties of biochemicals in dry NaCl composite aerosol particles and in solutions

Several fluorophores, such as tryptophan, NADH, NADPH, and riboflavin are found in airborne micro-organisms. In this work, the fluorescence properties of these biochemicals were studied both in dry NaCl composite aerosol particles and in saline solutions by means of laser-induced fluorescence. Fluorescence spectra were measured from individual, airborne aerosol particles and from solutions in cuvette. The excitation wavelength was varied in steps from 210 nm to 419 nm and the fluorescence was detected within a wavelength band of 310–670 nm. For each sample, the measured fluorescence emission spectra were combined into fluorescence maps. The fluorescence maximum of riboflavin in a dry NaCl composite particle is 20 nm red-shifted compared with the solution, whereas the maxima are blue-shifted by about 25 nm for tryptophan and 15 nm for NADH and NADPH. The molecular fluorescence cross sections have significant differences between the aerosol particles and the solutions, except for tryptophan. For NADH and NADPH the cross sections are over 20 times larger in the aerosol particles than in the solutions probably as a result of partial quenching of fluorescence in solution caused by the collision or stacking with the adenine moiety. The fluorescence cross section of riboflavin is almost 60 times larger in the solution than in the dry NaCl composite aerosol. This is probably caused by the different microenvironment around the fluorophore molecule and by the concentration quenching in the particles where the fluorescing molecules are relatively close to each other.     

稀土金属离子与色氨酸相互作用的荧光光谱研究

在碱性介质中,稀土离子与色氨酸形成离子缔合型异配位络合物使色氨酸的荧光猝灭,在pH=10-11的H3BO4－HAc-H3PO4-NaOH介质中,色氨酸的荧光发射和稀土离子对其荧光猝灭均达到最大值,各个稀土离子对色氨酸的荧光猝灭强度也基本相似,本文还建立了稀土离子与色氨酸配合物的分子模型并对其荧光猝灭机理进行了探讨。     

Influence of sulfur doping on the molecular fluorophore and synergistic effect for citric acid carbon dots

In citric acid-based carbon dots, molecular fluorophore contributes greatly to the fluorescence emission. In this paper,the nitrogen and sulfur co-doped carbon dots(N,S-CDs) were prepared, and an independent sulfur source is selected to achieve the doping controllability. The influence of sulfur doping on the molecular fluorophore was systematically studied.The introduction of sulfur atoms may promote the formation of molecular fluorophore due to the increased nitrogen content in CDs. The addition surface states containing sulfur were produced, and S element exists as –SO_3, and –SO_4 groups.Appreciate ratio of nitrogen and sulfur sources can improve the fluorescence emission. The photoluminescence quantum yields(PLQY) is increased from 56.4% of the single N-doping CDs to 63.4% of double-doping CDs, which ascribes to the synergistic effect of molecular fluorophores and surface states. The sensitivity of fluorescence to p H response and various metal ions was also explored.     

Low Temperature Metal-Enhanced Fluorescence

In this short letter, we describe the effects of low temperature on the Metal-Enhanced Fluorescence (MEF) phenomenon. Fluorophores close to Silver Island Films (SiFs) show on average two- to ten-fold enhancements in their fluorescence signatures at room temperature. However, at 77 K, we have observed that MEF is even more pronounced as compared to an identical glass control sample. We also demonstrate that the further enhancements in MEF occur at low temperature over a range of visible wavelengths for different fluorophores, for both SiFs and 20 nm surface deposited gold colloids.