1
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Nüesch MF, Pietrek L, Holmstrom ED, Nettels D, von Roten V, Kronenberg-Tenga R, Medalia O, Hummer G, Schuler B. Nanosecond chain dynamics of single-stranded nucleic acids. Nat Commun 2024; 15:6010. [PMID: 39019880 PMCID: PMC11255343 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-50092-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 07/01/2024] [Indexed: 07/19/2024] Open
Abstract
The conformational dynamics of single-stranded nucleic acids are fundamental for nucleic acid folding and function. However, their elementary chain dynamics have been difficult to resolve experimentally. Here we employ a combination of single-molecule Förster resonance energy transfer, nanosecond fluorescence correlation spectroscopy, and nanophotonic enhancement to determine the conformational ensembles and rapid chain dynamics of short single-stranded nucleic acids in solution. To interpret the experimental results in terms of end-to-end distance dynamics, we utilize the hierarchical chain growth approach, simple polymer models, and refinement with Bayesian inference to generate structural ensembles that closely align with the experimental data. The resulting chain reconfiguration times are exceedingly rapid, in the 10-ns range. Solvent viscosity-dependent measurements indicate that these dynamics of single-stranded nucleic acids exhibit negligible internal friction and are thus dominated by solvent friction. Our results provide a detailed view of the conformational distributions and rapid dynamics of single-stranded nucleic acids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark F Nüesch
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Lisa Pietrek
- Department of Theoretical Biophysics, Max Planck Institute of Biophysics, Max-von-Laue-Straße 3, 60438, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Erik D Holmstrom
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland.
- Department of Chemistry, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, USA.
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, USA.
| | - Daniel Nettels
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Valentin von Roten
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Rafael Kronenberg-Tenga
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Ohad Medalia
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Gerhard Hummer
- Department of Theoretical Biophysics, Max Planck Institute of Biophysics, Max-von-Laue-Straße 3, 60438, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
- Institute for Biophysics, Goethe University Frankfurt, 60438, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
| | - Benjamin Schuler
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland.
- Department of Physics, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland.
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2
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Hamza AO, Al-Dulaimi A, Bouillard JSG, Adawi AM. Long-Range and High-Efficiency Plasmon-Assisted Förster Resonance Energy Transfer. THE JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY. C, NANOMATERIALS AND INTERFACES 2023; 127:21611-21616. [PMID: 37969925 PMCID: PMC10641858 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcc.3c04281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Revised: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/17/2023]
Abstract
The development of a long-range and efficient Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) process is essential for its application in key enabling optoelectronic and sensing technologies. Via controlling the delocalization of the donor's electric field and Purcell enhancements, we experimentally demonstrate long-range and high-efficiency Förster resonance energy transfer using a plasmonic nanogap formed between a silver nanoparticle and an extended silver film. Our measurements show that the FRET range can be extended to over 200 nm while keeping the FRET efficiency over 0.38, achieving an efficiency enhancement factor of ∼108 with respect to a homogeneous environment. Reducing Purcell enhancements by removing the extended silver film increases the FRET efficiency to 0.55, at the expense of the FRET rate. We support our experimental findings with numerical calculations based on three-dimensional finite difference time-domain calculations and treat the donor and acceptor as classical dipoles. Our enhanced FRET range and efficiency structures provide a powerful strategy to develop novel optoelectronic devices and long-range FRET imaging and sensing systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdullah O. Hamza
- Department
of Physics, University of Hull, Cottingham Road, Hull HU6 7RX, U.K.
- G.
W. Gray Centre for Advanced Materials, University
of Hull, Cottingham Road, Hull HU6 7RX, U.K.
- Department
of Physics, College of Science, Salahaddin
University-Erbil, Erbil 44002, Kurdistan Region, Iraq
| | - Ali Al-Dulaimi
- Department
of Physics, University of Hull, Cottingham Road, Hull HU6 7RX, U.K.
- G.
W. Gray Centre for Advanced Materials, University
of Hull, Cottingham Road, Hull HU6 7RX, U.K.
| | - Jean-Sebastien G. Bouillard
- Department
of Physics, University of Hull, Cottingham Road, Hull HU6 7RX, U.K.
- G.
W. Gray Centre for Advanced Materials, University
of Hull, Cottingham Road, Hull HU6 7RX, U.K.
| | - Ali M. Adawi
- Department
of Physics, University of Hull, Cottingham Road, Hull HU6 7RX, U.K.
- G.
W. Gray Centre for Advanced Materials, University
of Hull, Cottingham Road, Hull HU6 7RX, U.K.
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3
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White D, Smith MA, Chanda B, Goldsmith RH. Strategies for Overcoming the Single-Molecule Concentration Barrier. ACS MEASUREMENT SCIENCE AU 2023; 3:239-257. [PMID: 37600457 PMCID: PMC10436376 DOI: 10.1021/acsmeasuresciau.3c00002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2023] [Revised: 04/21/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023]
Abstract
Fluorescence-based single-molecule approaches have helped revolutionize our understanding of chemical and biological mechanisms. Unfortunately, these methods are only suitable at low concentrations of fluorescent molecules so that single fluorescent species of interest can be successfully resolved beyond background signal. The application of these techniques has therefore been limited to high-affinity interactions despite most biological and chemical processes occurring at much higher reactant concentrations. Fortunately, recent methodological advances have demonstrated that this concentration barrier can indeed be broken, with techniques reaching concentrations as high as 1 mM. The goal of this Review is to discuss the challenges in performing single-molecule fluorescence techniques at high-concentration, offer applications in both biology and chemistry, and highlight the major milestones that shatter the concentration barrier. We also hope to inspire the widespread use of these techniques so we can begin exploring the new physical phenomena lying beyond this barrier.
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Affiliation(s)
- David
S. White
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin—Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, United States
| | - Mackinsey A. Smith
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin—Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, United States
| | - Baron Chanda
- Center
for
Investigation of Membrane Excitability Diseases, Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, United States
| | - Randall H. Goldsmith
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin—Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, United States
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4
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Yang Y, Dev A, Sychugov I, Hägglund C, Zhang SL. Plasmon-Enhanced Fluorescence of Single Quantum Dots Immobilized in Optically Coupled Aluminum Nanoholes. J Phys Chem Lett 2023; 14:2339-2346. [PMID: 36847590 PMCID: PMC10009806 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.3c00468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2023] [Accepted: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Fluorescence-based optical sensing techniques have continually been explored for single-molecule detection targeting myriad biomedical applications. Improving signal-to-noise ratio remains a prioritized effort to enable unambiguous detection at single-molecule level. Here, we report a systematic simulation-assisted optimization of plasmon-enhanced fluorescence of single quantum dots based on nanohole arrays in ultrathin aluminum films. The simulation is first calibrated by referring to the measured transmittance in nanohole arrays and subsequently used for guiding their design. With an optimized combination of nanohole diameter and depth, the variation of the square of simulated average volumetric electric field enhancement agrees excellently with that of experimental photoluminescence enhancement over a large range of nanohole periods. A maximum 5-fold photoluminescence enhancement is statistically achieved experimentally for the single quantum dots immobilized at the bottom of simulation-optimized nanoholes in comparison to those cast-deposited on bare glass substrate. Hence, boosting photoluminescence with optimized nanohole arrays holds promises for single-fluorophore-based biosensing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yupeng Yang
- Division
of Solid-State Electronics, Department of Electrical Engineering,
The Ångström Laboratory, Uppsala
University, SE-751 03 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Apurba Dev
- Division
of Solid-State Electronics, Department of Electrical Engineering,
The Ångström Laboratory, Uppsala
University, SE-751 03 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Ilya Sychugov
- Division
of Photonics, Department of Applied Physics, School of Engineering
Sciences, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, SE-100 44 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Carl Hägglund
- Division
of Solar Cell Technology, Department of Materials Science and Engineering,
The Ångström Laboratory, Uppsala
University, SE-751 03 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Shi-Li Zhang
- Division
of Solid-State Electronics, Department of Electrical Engineering,
The Ångström Laboratory, Uppsala
University, SE-751 03 Uppsala, Sweden
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5
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Messina TC, Srijanto BR, Collier CP, Kravchenko II, Richards CI. Gold Ion Beam Milled Gold Zero-Mode Waveguides. NANOMATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 12:1755. [PMID: 35630978 PMCID: PMC9147361 DOI: 10.3390/nano12101755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2022] [Revised: 05/13/2022] [Accepted: 05/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
Zero-mode waveguides (ZMWs) are widely used in single molecule fluorescence microscopy for their enhancement of emitted light and the ability to study samples at physiological concentrations. ZMWs are typically produced using photo or electron beam lithography. We report a new method of ZMW production using focused ion beam (FIB) milling with gold ions. We demonstrate that ion-milled gold ZMWs with 200 nm apertures exhibit similar plasmon-enhanced fluorescence seen with ZMWs fabricated with traditional techniques such as electron beam lithography.
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Affiliation(s)
- Troy C. Messina
- Department of Physics, Berea College, 101 Chestnut Street, Berea, KY 40404, USA
| | - Bernadeta R. Srijanto
- Center for Nanophase Materials Science, Oak Ridge National Labs, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA; (B.R.S.); (C.P.C.); (I.I.K.)
| | - Charles Patrick Collier
- Center for Nanophase Materials Science, Oak Ridge National Labs, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA; (B.R.S.); (C.P.C.); (I.I.K.)
| | - Ivan I. Kravchenko
- Center for Nanophase Materials Science, Oak Ridge National Labs, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA; (B.R.S.); (C.P.C.); (I.I.K.)
| | - Christopher I. Richards
- Department of Chemistry, University of Kentucky, 209 Chemistry-Physics Building, Lexington, KY 40202, USA;
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6
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Masud AA, Arefin SMN, Fairooz F, Fu X, Moonschi F, Srijanto BR, Neupane KR, Aryal S, Calabro R, Kim DY, Collier CP, Chowdhury MH, Richards CI. Photoluminescence Enhancement, Blinking Suppression, and Improved Biexciton Quantum Yield of Single Quantum Dots in Zero Mode Waveguides. J Phys Chem Lett 2021; 12:3303-3311. [PMID: 33765768 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.1c00450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
The capability of quantum dots to generate both single and multiexcitons can be harnessed for a wide variety of applications, including those that require high optical gain. Here, we use time-correlated photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy to demonstrate that the isolation of single CdSeTe/ZnS core-shell, nanocrystal quantum dots (QDs) in Zero Mode Waveguides (ZMWs) leads to a significant modification in PL intensity, blinking dynamics, and biexciton behavior. QDs in aluminum ZMWs (AlZMWs) exhibited a 15-fold increase in biexciton emission, indicating a preferential enhancement of the biexciton radiative decay rate as compared to the single exciton rate. The increase in biexciton behavior was accompanied by a decrease in blinking events due to a shortening in the dark state residence time. These results indicate that plasmon mediated enhanced decay rates of QDs in AlZMWs lead to substantial changes in the photophysical properties of single quantum dots, including an increase in biexciton behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdullah Al Masud
- Department of Chemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40506, United States
| | - S M Nayeem Arefin
- Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Fatema Fairooz
- Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Xu Fu
- Department of Chemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40506, United States
| | - Faruk Moonschi
- Department of Physiology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40536, United States
| | - Bernadeta R Srijanto
- Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences, Oakridge National Lab, Oakridge, Tennessee 37831, United States
| | - Khaga Raj Neupane
- Department of Chemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40506, United States
| | - Surya Aryal
- Department of Chemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40506, United States
| | - Rosemary Calabro
- Department of Chemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40506, United States
| | - Doo-Young Kim
- Department of Chemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40506, United States
| | - C Patrick Collier
- Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences, Oakridge National Lab, Oakridge, Tennessee 37831, United States
| | - Mustafa Habib Chowdhury
- Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Christopher I Richards
- Department of Chemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40506, United States
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7
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Taumoefolau GH, Best RB. Estimating transition path times and shapes from single-molecule photon trajectories: A simulation analysis. J Chem Phys 2021; 154:115101. [PMID: 33752373 DOI: 10.1063/5.0040949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
In a two-state molecular system, transition paths comprise the portions of trajectories during which the system transits from one stable state to the other. Because of their low population, it is essentially impossible to obtain information on transition paths from experiments on a large sample of molecules. However, single-molecule experiments such as laser optical tweezers or Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) spectroscopy have allowed transition-path durations to be estimated. Here, we use molecular simulations to test the methodology for obtaining information on transition paths in single-molecule FRET by generating photon trajectories from the distance trajectories obtained in the simulation. Encouragingly, we find that this maximum likelihood analysis yields transition-path times within a factor of 2-4 of the values estimated using a good coordinate for folding, but tends to systematically underestimate them. The underestimation can be attributed partly to the fact that the large changes in the end-end distance occur mostly early in a folding trajectory. However, even if the transfer efficiency is a good reaction coordinate for folding, the assumption that the transition-path shape is a step function still leads to an underestimation of the transition-path time as defined here. We find that allowing more flexibility in the form of the transition path model allows more accurate transition-path times to be extracted and points the way toward further improvements in methods for estimating transition-path time and transition-path shape.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grace H Taumoefolau
- Laboratory of Biophotonics and Quantum Biology, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20852, USA
| | - Robert B Best
- Laboratory of Chemical Physics, National Institute for Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-0520, USA
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8
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Maccaferri N, Barbillon G, Koya AN, Lu G, Acuna GP, Garoli D. Recent advances in plasmonic nanocavities for single-molecule spectroscopy. NANOSCALE ADVANCES 2021; 3:633-642. [PMID: 36133836 PMCID: PMC9418431 DOI: 10.1039/d0na00715c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2020] [Accepted: 11/04/2020] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Plasmonic nanocavities are able to engineer and confine electromagnetic fields to subwavelength volumes. In the past decade, they have enabled a large set of applications, in particular for sensing, optical trapping, and the investigation of physical and chemical phenomena at a few or single-molecule levels. This extreme sensitivity is possible thanks to the highly confined local field intensity enhancement, which depends on the geometry of plasmonic nanocavities. Indeed, suitably designed structures providing engineered local optical fields lead to enhanced optical sensing based on different phenomena such as surface enhanced Raman scattering, fluorescence, and Förster resonance energy transfer. In this mini-review, we illustrate the most recent results on plasmonic nanocavities, with specific emphasis on the detection of single molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolò Maccaferri
- Department of Physics and Materials Science, University of Luxembourg 162a avenue de la Faïencerie L-1511 Luxembourg Luxembourg
| | | | | | - Guowei Lu
- State Key Laboratory for Mesoscopic Physics, Collaborative Innovation Center of Quantum Matter, Peking University Beijing 100871 China
| | - Guillermo P Acuna
- Département de Physique - Photonic Nanosystems, Université de Fribourg CH-1700 Fribourg Switzerland
| | - Denis Garoli
- Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia Via Morego 30 16163 Genova Italy
- Faculty of Science and Technology, Free University of Bozen-Bolzano Piazza università 1 39100 Bolzano Italy
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9
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Baibakov M, Barulin A, Roy P, Claude JB, Patra S, Wenger J. Zero-mode waveguides can be made better: fluorescence enhancement with rectangular aluminum nanoapertures from the visible to the deep ultraviolet. NANOSCALE ADVANCES 2020; 2:4153-4160. [PMID: 36132755 PMCID: PMC9417158 DOI: 10.1039/d0na00366b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2020] [Accepted: 07/20/2020] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Nanoapertures milled in metallic films called zero-mode waveguides (ZMWs) overcome the limitations of classical confocal microscopes by enabling single molecule analysis at micromolar concentrations with improved fluorescence brightness. While the ZMWs have found many applications in single molecule fluorescence studies, their shape has been mainly limited to be circular. Owing to the large parameter space to explore and the lack of guidelines, earlier attempts using more elaborate shapes have led to unclear conclusions whether or not the performance was improved as compared to a circular ZMW. Here, we comparatively analyze the performance of rectangular-shaped nanoapertures milled in aluminum to enhance the fluorescence emission rate of single molecules from the near infrared to the deep ultraviolet. Our new design is based on rational principles taking maximum advantage of the laser linear polarization. While the long edge of the nanorectangle is set to meet the cut-off size for the propagation of light into the nanoaperture, the short edge is reduced to 30 nm to accelerate the photodynamics while maintaining bright fluorescence rates. Our results show that both in the red and in the ultraviolet, the nanorectangles provide 50% brighter photon count rates as compared to the best performing circular ZMWs and achieve fluorescence lifetimes shorter than 300 ps. These findings can be readily used to improve the performance of ZMWs, especially for fast biomolecular dynamics, bright single-photon sources, and ultraviolet plasmonics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mikhail Baibakov
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, Centrale Marseille, Institut Fresnel 13013 Marseille France
| | - Aleksandr Barulin
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, Centrale Marseille, Institut Fresnel 13013 Marseille France
| | - Prithu Roy
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, Centrale Marseille, Institut Fresnel 13013 Marseille France
| | - Jean-Benoît Claude
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, Centrale Marseille, Institut Fresnel 13013 Marseille France
| | - Satyajit Patra
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, Centrale Marseille, Institut Fresnel 13013 Marseille France
| | - Jérôme Wenger
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, Centrale Marseille, Institut Fresnel 13013 Marseille France
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10
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Al Masud A, Martin WE, Moonschi FH, Park SM, Srijanto BR, Graham KR, Collier CP, Richards CI. Mixed metal zero-mode guides (ZMWs) for tunable fluorescence enhancement. NANOSCALE ADVANCES 2020; 2:1894-1903. [PMID: 36132495 PMCID: PMC9419232 DOI: 10.1039/c9na00641a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2019] [Accepted: 03/25/2020] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Zero-mode waveguides (ZMWs) are capable of modifying fluorescence emission through interactions with surface plasmon modes leading to either plasmon-enhanced fluorescence or quenching. Enhancement requires spectral overlap of the plasmon modes with the absorption or emission of the fluorophore. Thus, enhancement is limited to fluorophores in resonance with metals (e.g. Al, Au, Ag) used for ZMWs. The ability to tune interactions to match a wider range of fluorophores across the visible spectra would significantly extend the utility of ZMWs. We fabricated ZMWs composed of aluminum and gold individually and also in mixtures of three different ratios, (Al : Au; 75 : 25, 50 : 50, 25 : 75). We characterized the effect of mixed-metal ZMWs on single-molecule emission for a range fluorophores across the visible spectrum. Mixed metal ZMWs exhibited a shift in the spectral range where they exhibited the maximum fluorescence enhancement allowing us to match the emission of fluorophores that were nonresonant with single metal ZMWs. We also compared the effect of mixed-metal ZMWs on the photophysical properties of fluorescent molecules due to metal-molecule interactions. We quantified changes in fluorescence lifetimes and photostability that were dependent on the ratio of Au and Al. Tuning the enhancement properties of ZMWs by changing the ratio of Au and Al allowed us to match the fluorescence of fluorophores that emit in different regions of the visible spectrum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdullah Al Masud
- Department of Chemistry, University of Kentucky Lexington KY 40506 USA
| | - W Elliott Martin
- Department of Chemistry, University of Kentucky Lexington KY 40506 USA
| | - Faruk H Moonschi
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Kentucky KY 40506 USA
| | - So Min Park
- Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, Univ. of Kentucky 40506 USA
| | - Bernadeta R Srijanto
- Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences, Oakridge National Lab Oakridge TN 37831 USA
| | - Kenneth R Graham
- Department of Chemistry, University of Kentucky Lexington KY 40506 USA
| | - C Patrick Collier
- Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences, Oakridge National Lab Oakridge TN 37831 USA
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11
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Baibakov M, Patra S, Claude JB, Wenger J. Long-Range Single-Molecule Förster Resonance Energy Transfer between Alexa Dyes in Zero-Mode Waveguides. ACS OMEGA 2020; 5:6947-6955. [PMID: 32258931 PMCID: PMC7114734 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.0c00322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2020] [Accepted: 03/05/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Zero-mode waveguide (ZMW) nano-apertures milled in metal films were proposed to improve the Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) efficiency and enable single-molecule FRET detection beyond the 10 nm barrier, overcoming the restrictions of diffraction-limited detection in a homogeneous medium. However, the earlier ZMW demonstrations were limited to the Atto 550-Atto 647N fluorophore pair, asking the question whether the FRET enhancement observation was an artifact related to this specific set of fluorescent dyes. Here, we use Alexa Fluor 546 and Alexa Fluor 647 to investigate single-molecule FRET at large donor-acceptor separations exceeding 10 nm inside ZMWs. These Alexa fluorescent dyes feature a markedly different chemical structure, surface charge, and hydrophobicity as compared to their Atto counterparts. Our single molecule data on Alexa 546-Alexa 647 demonstrate enhanced FRET efficiencies at large separations exceeding 10 nm, extending the spatial range available for FRET and confirming the earlier conclusions. By showing that the FRET enhancement inside a ZMW does not depend on the set of fluorescent dyes, this report is an important step to establish the relevance of ZMWs to extend the sensitivity and detection range of FRET, while preserving its ability to work on regular fluorescent dye pairs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mikhail Baibakov
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, Centrale
Marseille, Institut Fresnel, 13013 Marseille, France
| | - Satyajit Patra
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, Centrale
Marseille, Institut Fresnel, 13013 Marseille, France
| | - Jean-Benoît Claude
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, Centrale
Marseille, Institut Fresnel, 13013 Marseille, France
| | - Jérôme Wenger
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, Centrale
Marseille, Institut Fresnel, 13013 Marseille, France
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12
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Patra S, Baibakov M, Claude JB, Wenger J. Surface passivation of zero-mode waveguide nanostructures: benchmarking protocols and fluorescent labels. Sci Rep 2020; 10:5235. [PMID: 32251328 PMCID: PMC7089978 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-61856-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2019] [Accepted: 12/19/2019] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Zero mode waveguide (ZMW) nanoapertures efficiently confine the light down to the nanometer scale and overcome the diffraction limit in single molecule fluorescence analysis. However, unwanted adhesion of the fluorescent molecules on the ZMW surface can severely hamper the experiments. Therefore a proper surface passivation is required for ZMWs, but information is currently lacking on both the nature of the adhesion phenomenon and the optimization of the different passivation protocols. Here we monitor the influence of the fluorescent dye (Alexa Fluor 546 and 647, Atto 550 and 647N) on the non-specific adhesion of double stranded DNA molecule. We show that the nonspecific adhesion of DNA double strands onto the ZMW surface is directly mediated by the organic fluorescent dye being used, as Atto 550 and Atto 647N show a pronounced tendency to adhere to the ZMW while the Alexa Fluor 546 and 647 are remarkably free of this effect. Despite the small size of the fluorescent label, the surface charge and hydrophobicity of the dye appear to play a key role in promoting the DNA affinity for the ZMW surface. Next, different surface passivation methods (bovine serum albumin BSA, polyethylene glycol PEG, polyvinylphosphonic acid PVPA) are quantitatively benchmarked by fluorescence correlation spectroscopy to determine the most efficient approaches to prevent the adsorption of Atto 647N labeled DNA. Protocols using PVPA and PEG-silane of 1000 Da molar mass are found to drastically avoid the non-specific adsorption into ZMWs. Optimizing both the choice of the fluorescent dye and the surface passivation protocol are highly significant to expand the use of ZMWs for single molecule fluorescence applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Satyajit Patra
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, Centrale Marseille, Institut Fresnel, 13013, Marseille, France
| | - Mikhail Baibakov
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, Centrale Marseille, Institut Fresnel, 13013, Marseille, France
| | - Jean-Benoît Claude
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, Centrale Marseille, Institut Fresnel, 13013, Marseille, France
| | - Jérôme Wenger
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, Centrale Marseille, Institut Fresnel, 13013, Marseille, France.
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13
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Kotnala A, Kollipara PS, Li J, Zheng Y. Overcoming Diffusion-Limited Trapping in Nanoaperture Tweezers Using Opto-Thermal-Induced Flow. NANO LETTERS 2020; 20:768-779. [PMID: 31834809 PMCID: PMC6952578 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.9b04876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Nanoaperture-based plasmonic tweezers have shown tremendous potential in trapping, sensing, and spectroscopic analysis of nano-objects with single-molecule sensitivity. However, the trapping process is often diffusion-limited and therefore suffers from low-throughput. Here, we present bubble- and convection-assisted trapping techniques, which use opto-thermally generated Marangoni and Rayleigh-Bénard convection flow to rapidly deliver particles from large distances to the nanoaperture instead of relying on normal diffusion, enabling a reduction of 1-2 orders of magnitude in particle-trapping time (i.e., time before a particle is trapped). At a concentration of 2 × 107 particles/mL, average particle-trapping times in bubble- and convection-assisted trapping were 7 and 18 s, respectively, compared with more than 300 s in the diffusion-limited trapping. Trapping of a single particle at an ultralow concentration of 2 × 106 particles/mL was achieved within 2-3 min, which would otherwise take several hours in the diffusion-limited trapping. With their quick delivery and local concentrating of analytes at the functional surfaces, our convection- and bubble-assisted trapping could lead to enhanced sensitivity and throughput of nanoaperture-based plasmonic sensors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abhay Kotnala
- Walker Department of Mechanical Engineering, Material Science and Engineering Program and Texas Material Institute, The university of Texas at Austin, Texas 78712, USA
| | - Pavana Siddhartha Kollipara
- Walker Department of Mechanical Engineering, Material Science and Engineering Program and Texas Material Institute, The university of Texas at Austin, Texas 78712, USA
| | - Jingang Li
- Walker Department of Mechanical Engineering, Material Science and Engineering Program and Texas Material Institute, The university of Texas at Austin, Texas 78712, USA
| | - Yuebing Zheng
- Walker Department of Mechanical Engineering, Material Science and Engineering Program and Texas Material Institute, The university of Texas at Austin, Texas 78712, USA
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14
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Garoli D, Yamazaki H, Maccaferri N, Wanunu M. Plasmonic Nanopores for Single-Molecule Detection and Manipulation: Toward Sequencing Applications. NANO LETTERS 2019; 19:7553-7562. [PMID: 31587559 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.9b02759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Solid-state nanopore-based sensors are promising platforms for next-generation sequencing technologies, featuring label-free single-molecule sensitivity, rapid detection, and low-cost manufacturing. In recent years, solid-state nanopores have been explored due to their miscellaneous fabrication methods and their use in a wide range of sensing applications. Here, we highlight a novel family of solid-state nanopores which have recently appeared, namely plasmonic nanopores. The use of plasmonic nanopores to engineer electromagnetic fields around a nanopore sensor allows for enhanced optical spectroscopies, local control over temperature, thermophoresis of molecules and ions to/from the sensor, and trapping of entities. This Mini Review offers a comprehensive understanding of the current state-of-the-art plasmonic nanopores for single-molecule detection and biomolecular sequencing applications and discusses the latest advances and future perspectives on plasmonic nanopore-based technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denis Garoli
- Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia , via Morego 30 , I-16163 , Genova , Italy
| | - Hirohito Yamazaki
- Department of Physics , Northeastern University , 360 Huntington Avenue , Boston , Massachusetts 02115 , United States
| | - Nicolò Maccaferri
- Physics and Materials Science Research Unit , University of Luxembourg , 162a avenue de la Faïencerie , L-1511 Luxembourg , Luxembourg
| | - Meni Wanunu
- Department of Physics , Northeastern University , 360 Huntington Avenue , Boston , Massachusetts 02115 , United States
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15
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Zambrana-Puyalto X, Ponzellini P, Maccaferri N, Tessarolo E, Pelizzo MG, Zhang W, Barbillon G, Lu G, Garoli D. A hybrid metal-dielectric zero mode waveguide for enhanced single molecule detection. Chem Commun (Camb) 2019; 55:9725-9728. [PMID: 31355377 DOI: 10.1039/c9cc04118d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
We fabricated hybrid metal-dielectric nanoslots and measured their optical response at three different wavelengths. The nanostructure is fabricated on a bilayer film formed by the sequential deposition of silicon and gold on a transparent substrate. The optical characterization is done via fluorescence spectroscopy measurements. We characterized the fluorescence enhancement, as well as the lifetime and the detection volume reduction for each wavelength. We observe that the hybrid metal-dielectric nanoslots behave as enhanced zero mode waveguides in the near-infrared spectral region. Their detection volume is such that they can perform enhanced single-molecule detection at tens of μM. We compared their behavior with that of a golden ZMW, and we demonstrated that the dielectric silicon layer improves both the optical performance and the stability of the device.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Paolo Ponzellini
- Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, 16136 Genova, Italy.
| | - Nicolò Maccaferri
- Physics and Materials Science Research Unit, University of Luxembourg, L-1511 Luxembourg, Luxembourg
| | | | | | - Weidong Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Mesoscopic Physics & Collaborative Innovation Center of Quantum Matter, School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | | | - Guowei Lu
- State Key Laboratory for Mesoscopic Physics & Collaborative Innovation Center of Quantum Matter, School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Denis Garoli
- Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, 16136 Genova, Italy.
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16
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Baibakov M, Patra S, Claude JB, Moreau A, Lumeau J, Wenger J. Extending Single-Molecule Förster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) Range beyond 10 Nanometers in Zero-Mode Waveguides. ACS NANO 2019; 13:8469-8480. [PMID: 31283186 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.9b04378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Single-molecule Förster resonance energy transfer (smFRET) is widely used to monitor conformations and interaction dynamics at the molecular level. However, conventional smFRET measurements are ineffective at donor-acceptor distances exceeding 10 nm, impeding the studies on biomolecules of larger size. Here, we show that zero-mode waveguide (ZMW) apertures can be used to overcome the 10 nm barrier in smFRET. Using an optimized ZMW structure, we demonstrate smFRET between standard commercial fluorophores up to 13.6 nm distance with a significantly improved FRET efficiency. To further break into the classical FRET range limit, ZMWs are combined with molecular constructs featuring multiple acceptor dyes to achieve high FRET efficiencies together with high fluorescence count rates. As we discuss general guidelines for quantitative smFRET measurements inside ZMWs, the technique can be readily applied for monitoring conformations and interactions on large molecular complexes with enhanced brightness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mikhail Baibakov
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, Centrale Marseille , Institut Fresnel , 13013 Marseille , France
| | - Satyajit Patra
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, Centrale Marseille , Institut Fresnel , 13013 Marseille , France
| | - Jean-Benoît Claude
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, Centrale Marseille , Institut Fresnel , 13013 Marseille , France
| | - Antonin Moreau
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, Centrale Marseille , Institut Fresnel , 13013 Marseille , France
| | - Julien Lumeau
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, Centrale Marseille , Institut Fresnel , 13013 Marseille , France
| | - Jérôme Wenger
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, Centrale Marseille , Institut Fresnel , 13013 Marseille , France
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17
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Zambrana-Puyalto X, Maccaferri N, Ponzellini P, Giovannini G, De Angelis F, Garoli D. Site-selective functionalization of plasmonic nanopores for enhanced fluorescence emission rate and Förster resonance energy transfer. NANOSCALE ADVANCES 2019; 1:2454-2461. [PMID: 36131984 PMCID: PMC9419820 DOI: 10.1039/c9na00077a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2019] [Accepted: 05/03/2019] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
In this work, we use a site-selective functionalization strategy to decorate plasmonic nanopores with fluorescent dyes. Using an easy and robust fabrication method, we manage to build plasmonic rings on top of dielectric nanotubes with different inner diameters. The modulation of the dimension of the nanopores allows us to tailor their field confinement and their Purcell factor in the visible spectral range. In order to investigate how the changes in geometry influence the fluorescence emission rate efficiency, thiol-conjugated dyes are anchored on the plasmonic ring, thus forming a functional nanopore. We study the lifetime of ATTO 520 and ATTO 590 attached in two different configurations: single dye and FRET pair. For the single dye configuration, we observe that the lifetime of both single dyes decreases as the size of the nanopore is reduced. The smallest nanopores yield an experimental Purcell factor of 6. For the FRET pair configuration, we measure two regimes. For large nanopore sizes, the FRET efficiency remains constant. Whereas for smaller sizes, the FRET efficiency increases from 30 up to 45% with a decrease of the nanopore size. These findings, which have been supported by numerical simulations, may open new perspectives towards energy transfer engineering in plasmonic nanopores with potential applications in photonics and biosensing, in particular in single-molecule detection and sequencing.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Nicolò Maccaferri
- Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia Via Morego 30 16163 Genova Italy
- Physics and Materials Science Research Unit, University of Luxembourg L-1511 Luxembourg Luxembourg
| | - Paolo Ponzellini
- Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia Via Morego 30 16163 Genova Italy
| | | | | | - Denis Garoli
- Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia Via Morego 30 16163 Genova Italy
- Ab Analitica Via Svizzera 13 35027 Padova Italy
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18
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Yokota H. Fluorescence microscopy for visualizing single-molecule protein dynamics. Biochim Biophys Acta Gen Subj 2019; 1864:129362. [PMID: 31078674 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2019.05.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2018] [Revised: 04/26/2019] [Accepted: 05/07/2019] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Single-molecule fluorescence imaging (smFI) has evolved into a valuable method used in biophysical and biochemical studies as it can observe the real-time behavior of individual protein molecules, enabling understanding of their detailed dynamic features. smFI is also closely related to other state-of-the-art microscopic methods, optics, and nanomaterials in that smFI and these technologies have developed synergistically. SCOPE OF REVIEW This paper provides an overview of the recently developed single-molecule fluorescence microscopy methods, focusing on critical techniques employed in higher-precision measurements in vitro and fluorescent nanodiamond, an emerging promising fluorophore that will improve single-molecule fluorescence microscopy. MAJOR CONCLUSIONS smFI will continue to improve regarding the photostability of fluorophores and will develop via combination with other techniques based on nanofabrication, single-molecule manipulation, and so on. GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE Quantitative, high-resolution single-molecule studies will help establish an understanding of protein dynamics and complex biomolecular systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroaki Yokota
- Biophotonics Laboratory, Graduate School for the Creation of New Photonics Industries, Kurematsu-cho, Nishi-ku, Hamamatsu, Shizuoka 431-1202, Japan.
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19
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Zong H, Wang X, Mu X, Wang J, Sun M. Plasmon-Enhanced Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer. CHEM REC 2019; 19:818-842. [PMID: 30716206 DOI: 10.1002/tcr.201800181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2018] [Accepted: 01/07/2019] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
In this review, we firstly introduce physical mechanism of fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET), the methods to measure FRET efficiency, and the applications of FRET. Secondly, we introduce the principle and applications of plasmon-enhanced fluorescence (PEF). Thirdly, we focused on the principle and applications of plasmon-enhanced FRET. This review can promote further understanding of FRET and PE-FRET.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huan Zong
- Computational Center for Property and Modification on Nanomaterials, College of Science, Liaoning Shihua University, Fushun, 113001, People's Republic of China.,School of Mathematics and Physics, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Materials Genome Engineering, Beijing Key Laboratory for Magneto-Photoelectrical Composite and Interface Science, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, People's Republic of China
| | - Xinxin Wang
- School of Mathematics and Physics, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Materials Genome Engineering, Beijing Key Laboratory for Magneto-Photoelectrical Composite and Interface Science, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, People's Republic of China
| | - Xijiao Mu
- School of Mathematics and Physics, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Materials Genome Engineering, Beijing Key Laboratory for Magneto-Photoelectrical Composite and Interface Science, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, People's Republic of China
| | - Jingang Wang
- Computational Center for Property and Modification on Nanomaterials, College of Science, Liaoning Shihua University, Fushun, 113001, People's Republic of China
| | - Mengtao Sun
- School of Mathematics and Physics, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Materials Genome Engineering, Beijing Key Laboratory for Magneto-Photoelectrical Composite and Interface Science, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, People's Republic of China
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20
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Crouch GM, Han D, Bohn PW. Zero-Mode Waveguide Nanophotonic Structures for Single Molecule Characterization. JOURNAL OF PHYSICS D: APPLIED PHYSICS 2018; 51:193001. [PMID: 34158676 PMCID: PMC8216246 DOI: 10.1088/1361-6463/aab8be] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Single-molecule characterization has become a crucial research tool in the chemical and life sciences, but limitations, such as limited concentration range, inability to control molecular distributions in space, and intrinsic phenomena, such as photobleaching, present significant challenges. Recent developments in non-classical optics and nanophotonics offer promising routes to mitigating these restrictions, such that even low affinity (K D ~ mM) biomolecular interactions can be studied. Here we introduce and review specific nanophotonic devices used to support single molecule studies. Optical nanostructures, such as zero-mode waveguides (ZMWs), are usually fabricated in thin gold or aluminum films and serve to confine the observation volume of optical microspectroscopy to attoliter to zeptoliter volumes. These simple nanostructures allow individual molecules to be isolated for optical and electrochemical analysis, even when the molecules of interest are present at high concentration (μM - mM) in bulk solution. Arrays of ZMWs may be combined with optical probes such as single molecule fluorescence, single molecule fluorescence resonance energy transfer (smFRET), and fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) for distributed analysis of large numbers of single-molecule reactions or binding events in parallel. Furthermore, ZMWs may be used as multifunctional devices, for example by combining optical and electrochemical functions in a single discrete architecture to achieve electrochemical ZMWs (E-ZMW). In this review, we will describe the optical properties, fabrication, and applications of ZMWs for single-molecule studies, as well as the integration of ZMWs into systems for chemical and biochemical analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Garrison M. Crouch
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556
| | - Donghoon Han
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556
| | - Paul W. Bohn
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556
- Departmemt of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556
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21
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Ray S, Widom JR, Walter NG. Life under the Microscope: Single-Molecule Fluorescence Highlights the RNA World. Chem Rev 2018; 118:4120-4155. [PMID: 29363314 PMCID: PMC5918467 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.7b00519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The emergence of single-molecule (SM) fluorescence techniques has opened up a vast new toolbox for exploring the molecular basis of life. The ability to monitor individual biomolecules in real time enables complex, dynamic folding pathways to be interrogated without the averaging effect of ensemble measurements. In parallel, modern biology has been revolutionized by our emerging understanding of the many functions of RNA. In this comprehensive review, we survey SM fluorescence approaches and discuss how the application of these tools to RNA and RNA-containing macromolecular complexes in vitro has yielded significant insights into the underlying biology. Topics covered include the three-dimensional folding landscapes of a plethora of isolated RNA molecules, their assembly and interactions in RNA-protein complexes, and the relation of these properties to their biological functions. In all of these examples, the use of SM fluorescence methods has revealed critical information beyond the reach of ensemble averages.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Nils G. Walter
- Department of Chemistry, Single Molecule Analysis Group, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
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22
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Hu J, Wu M, Jiang L, Zhong Z, Zhou Z, Rujiralai T, Ma J. Combining gold nanoparticle antennas with single-molecule fluorescence resonance energy transfer (smFRET) to study DNA hairpin dynamics. NANOSCALE 2018; 10:6611-6619. [PMID: 29578224 DOI: 10.1039/c7nr08397a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
The association of a plasmonic nano-antenna with single-molecule FRET technique presents new prospects to investigate the dynamics of biological molecules. However, the presence of a plasmonic nano-antenna significantly modifies the FRET rate and efficiency; this makes its applicability to the prevalent single-molecule FRET experiments unclear. Herein, using gold nanoparticle antennas of different sizes and DNA hairpins labelled with FRET pairs (Cy3 and Cy5) as the model system, we performed experiments to study the folding dynamics of single DNA hairpins at various salt concentrations. Our results indicate that gold nanoparticle antennas can enhance single-molecule fluorescence of Cy3 and Cy5 up to 3-5 folds, substantially reduce the FRET efficiency, and alter the obtained FRET efficiency histograms. However, the folding dynamics of DNA hairpins remains unaffected, and the correct kinetic and dynamic information can still be extracted from the seriously modified FRET efficiencies. Therefore, our experiments demonstrate the feasibility and compatibility for applying plasmonic nano-antennas to the mostly used single-molecule FRET assays, which provide a broad range of possibilities for the future applications of these nano-antennas in studying various essential biological processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinyong Hu
- School of Physics, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, People's Republic of China.
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23
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Larkin J, Henley RY, Jadhav V, Korlach J, Wanunu M. Length-independent DNA packing into nanopore zero-mode waveguides for low-input DNA sequencing. NATURE NANOTECHNOLOGY 2017; 12:1169-1175. [PMID: 28892102 PMCID: PMC5718969 DOI: 10.1038/nnano.2017.176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2016] [Accepted: 07/26/2017] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Compared with conventional methods, single-molecule real-time (SMRT) DNA sequencing exhibits longer read lengths than conventional methods, less GC bias, and the ability to read DNA base modifications. However, reading DNA sequence from sub-nanogram quantities is impractical owing to inefficient delivery of DNA molecules into the confines of zero-mode waveguides-zeptolitre optical cavities in which DNA sequencing proceeds. Here, we show that the efficiency of voltage-induced DNA loading into waveguides equipped with nanopores at their floors is five orders of magnitude greater than existing methods. In addition, we find that DNA loading is nearly length-independent, unlike diffusive loading, which is biased towards shorter fragments. We demonstrate here loading and proof-of-principle four-colour sequence readout of a polymerase-bound 20,000-base-pair-long DNA template within seconds from a sub-nanogram input quantity, a step towards low-input DNA sequencing and mammalian epigenomic mapping of native DNA samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph Larkin
- Department of Physics, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
| | - Robert Y Henley
- Department of Physics, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
| | - Vivek Jadhav
- Department of Physics, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
| | - Jonas Korlach
- Pacific Biosciences, Menlo Park, California 94025, USA
| | - Meni Wanunu
- Department of Physics, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
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24
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Plénat T, Yoshizawa S, Fourmy D. DNA-Guided Delivery of Single Molecules into Zero-Mode Waveguides. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2017; 9:30561-30566. [PMID: 28825461 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.7b11953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Zero-mode waveguides (ZMWs) are powerful analytical tools corresponding to optical nanostructures fabricated in a thin metallic film capable of confining an excitation volume to the range of attoliters. This small volume of confinement allows single-molecule fluorescence experiments to be performed at physiologically relevant concentrations of fluorescently labeled biomolecules. Exactly one molecule to be studied must be attached at the floor of the ZMW for signal detection and analysis; however, the massive parallelism of these nanoarrays suffers from a Poissonian-limited distribution of these biomolecules. To date, there is no method available that provides full single-molecule occupancy of massively arrayed ZMWs. Here we report the performance of a DNA-guided method that uses steric exclusion properties of large DNA molecules to bias the Poissonian-limited delivery of single molecules. Non-Poissonian statistics were obtained with DNA molecules that contain a free-biotinylated extremity for efficient binding to the floor of the ZMW, which resulted in a decrease of accessibility for a second molecule. Both random-coiled and condensed DNA conformations drove non-Poissonian single-molecule delivery into ZMW arrays. The results suggest that an optimal balance between the rigidity and flexibility of the macromolecule is critical for favorable accessibility and single occupancy. The optimized method provides a means for full exploitation of these massively parallelized analytical tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Plénat
- Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), CEA, CNRS, Univ. Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay , 91198 Gif-sur-Yvette Cedex, France
| | - Satoko Yoshizawa
- Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), CEA, CNRS, Univ. Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay , 91198 Gif-sur-Yvette Cedex, France
| | - Dominique Fourmy
- Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), CEA, CNRS, Univ. Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay , 91198 Gif-sur-Yvette Cedex, France
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25
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Martin WE, Ge N, Srijanto BR, Furnish E, Collier CP, Trinkle CA, Richards CI. Real-Time Sensing of Single-Ligand Delivery with Nanoaperture-Integrated Microfluidic Devices. ACS OMEGA 2017; 2:3858-3867. [PMID: 28782052 PMCID: PMC5537690 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.7b00934] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2017] [Accepted: 07/11/2017] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
The measurement of biological events on the surface of live cells at the single-molecule level is complicated by several factors including high protein densities that are incompatible with single-molecule imaging, cellular autofluorescence, and protein mobility on the cell surface. Here, we fabricated a device composed of an array of nanoscale apertures coupled with a microfluidic delivery system to quantify single-ligand interactions with proteins on the cell surface. We cultured live cells directly on the device and isolated individual epidermal growth factor receptors (EGFRs) in the apertures while delivering fluorescently labeled epidermal growth factor. We observed single ligands binding to EGFRs, allowing us to quantify the ligand turnover in real time. These results demonstrate that this nanoaperture-coupled microfluidic device allows for the spatial isolation of individual membrane proteins while maintaining them in their cellular environment, providing the capability to monitor single-ligand binding events while maintaining receptors in their physiological environment. These methods should be applicable to a wide range of membrane proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- W. Elliott Martin
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Kentucky, 505 Rose Street, Lexington, Kentucky 40506, United States
| | - Ning Ge
- Department
of Mechanical Engineering, University of
Kentucky, 151 Ralph G.
Anderson Building, Lexington, Kentucky 40506, United
States
| | - Bernadeta R. Srijanto
- Center
for Nanophase Materials Sciences, Oak Ridge
National Laboratory, Oak Ridge Tennessee 37831, United States
| | - Emily Furnish
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Kentucky, 505 Rose Street, Lexington, Kentucky 40506, United States
| | - C. Patrick Collier
- Center
for Nanophase Materials Sciences, Oak Ridge
National Laboratory, Oak Ridge Tennessee 37831, United States
| | - Christine A. Trinkle
- Department
of Mechanical Engineering, University of
Kentucky, 151 Ralph G.
Anderson Building, Lexington, Kentucky 40506, United
States
| | - Christopher I. Richards
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Kentucky, 505 Rose Street, Lexington, Kentucky 40506, United States
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26
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Aissaoui N, Moth-Poulsen K, Käll M, Johansson P, Wilhelmsson LM, Albinsson B. FRET enhancement close to gold nanoparticles positioned in DNA origami constructs. NANOSCALE 2017; 9:673-683. [PMID: 27942672 DOI: 10.1039/c6nr04852h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Here we investigate the energy transfer rates of a Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) pair positioned in close proximity to a 5 nm gold nanoparticle (AuNP) on a DNA origami construct. We study the distance dependence of the FRET rate by varying the location of the donor molecule, D, relative to the AuNP while maintaining a fixed location of the acceptor molecule, A. The presence of the AuNP induces an alteration in the spontaneous emission of the donor (including radiative and non-radiative rates) which is strongly dependent on the distance between the donor and AuNP surface. Simultaneously, the energy transfer rates are enhanced at shorter D-A (and D-AuNP) distances. Overall, in addition to the direct influence of the acceptor and AuNP on the donor decay there is also a significant increase in decay rate not explained by the sum of the two interactions. This leads to enhanced energy transfer between donor and acceptor in the presence of a 5 nm AuNP. We also demonstrate that the transfer rate in the three "particle" geometry (D + A + AuNP) depends approximately linearly on the transfer rate in the donor-AuNP system, suggesting the possibility to control FRET process with electric field induced by 5 nm AuNPs close to the donor fluorophore. It is concluded that DNA origami is a very versatile platform for studying interactions between molecules and plasmonic nanoparticles in general and FRET enhancement in particular.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nesrine Aissaoui
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden.
| | - Kasper Moth-Poulsen
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden.
| | - Mikael Käll
- Department of Applied Physics, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Peter Johansson
- School of Science and Technology, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
| | - L Marcus Wilhelmsson
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden.
| | - Bo Albinsson
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden.
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27
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de Torres J, Mivelle M, Moparthi SB, Rigneault H, Van Hulst NF, García-Parajó MF, Margeat E, Wenger J. Plasmonic Nanoantennas Enable Forbidden Förster Dipole-Dipole Energy Transfer and Enhance the FRET Efficiency. NANO LETTERS 2016; 16:6222-6230. [PMID: 27623052 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.6b02470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) plays a key role in biochemistry, organic photovoltaics, and lighting sources. FRET is commonly used as a nanoruler for the short (nanometer) distance between donor and acceptor dyes, yet FRET is equally sensitive to the mutual dipole orientation. The orientation dependence complicates the FRET analysis in biological samples and may even lead to the absence of FRET for perpendicularly oriented donor and acceptor dipoles. Here, we exploit the strongly inhomogeneous and localized fields in plasmonic nanoantennas to open new energy transfer routes, overcoming the limitations from the mutual dipole orientation to ultimately enhance the FRET efficiency. We demonstrate that the simultaneous presence of perpendicular near-field components in the nanoantenna sets favorable energy transfer routes that increase the FRET efficiency up to 50% for nearly perpendicular donor and acceptor dipoles. This new facet of plasmonic nanoantennas enables dipole-dipole energy transfer that would otherwise be forbidden in a homogeneous environment. As such, our approach further increases the applicability of single-molecule FRET over diffraction-limited approaches, with the additional benefits of higher sensitivities and higher concentration ranges toward physiological levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan de Torres
- CNRS, Aix Marseille Université, Centrale Marseille, Institut Fresnel, UMR 7249, 13013Marseille, France
| | - Mathieu Mivelle
- ICFO-Institut de Ciencies Fotoniques, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology , 08860 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Satish Babu Moparthi
- CNRS, Aix Marseille Université, Centrale Marseille, Institut Fresnel, UMR 7249, 13013Marseille, France
| | - Hervé Rigneault
- CNRS, Aix Marseille Université, Centrale Marseille, Institut Fresnel, UMR 7249, 13013Marseille, France
| | - Niek F Van Hulst
- ICFO-Institut de Ciencies Fotoniques, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology , 08860 Barcelona, Spain
- ICREA , Passeig de Lluís Companys 23, 08010 Barcelona, Spain
| | - María F García-Parajó
- ICFO-Institut de Ciencies Fotoniques, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology , 08860 Barcelona, Spain
- ICREA , Passeig de Lluís Companys 23, 08010 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Emmanuel Margeat
- CNRS UMR5048, Centre de Biochimie Structurale , 29 rue de Navacelles, 34090 Montpellier, France
- INSERM U1054 , 34090 Montpellier, France
- Université Montpellier , 34090 Montpellier, France
| | - Jérôme Wenger
- CNRS, Aix Marseille Université, Centrale Marseille, Institut Fresnel, UMR 7249, 13013Marseille, France
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Martin WE, Srijanto BR, Collier CP, Vosch T, Richards CI. A Comparison of Single-Molecule Emission in Aluminum and Gold Zero-Mode Waveguides. J Phys Chem A 2016; 120:6719-27. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpca.6b03309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- W. Elliott Martin
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Kentucky, 505 Rose Street, Lexington, Kentucky 40506, United States
| | - Bernadeta R. Srijanto
- Center
for Nanophase Materials Sciences, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, United States
| | - C. Patrick Collier
- Center
for Nanophase Materials Sciences, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, United States
| | - Tom Vosch
- Nano-science
Center/Department of Chemistry, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken
5, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Christopher I. Richards
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Kentucky, 505 Rose Street, Lexington, Kentucky 40506, United States
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de Torres J, Ferrand P, Colas des Francs G, Wenger J. Coupling Emitters and Silver Nanowires to Achieve Long-Range Plasmon-Mediated Fluorescence Energy Transfer. ACS NANO 2016; 10:3968-3976. [PMID: 27019008 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.6b00287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
The development of quantum plasmonic circuitry requires efficient coupling between quantum emitters and plasmonic waveguides. A major experimental challenge is to simultaneously maximize the surface plasmon propagation length, the coupling efficiency into the plasmonic mode, and the Purcell factor. Addressing this challenge is also the key to enabling long-range energy transfer between quantum nanoemitters. Here, we use a dual-beam scanning confocal microscope to carefully investigate the interactions between fluorescent nanoparticles and surface plasmons on single-crystalline silver nanowires. By exciting the fluorescent nanoparticles via nanowire surface plasmons, we maximize the light-matter interactions and reach coupling efficiencies up to 44% together with 24× lifetime reduction and 4.1 μm propagation lengths. This improved optical performance enables the demonstration of long-range plasmon-mediated fluorescence energy transfer between two nanoparticles separated by micrometer distance. Our results provide guidelines toward practical realizations of efficient long-range fluorescence energy transfer for integrated plasmonics and quantum nano-optics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan de Torres
- CNRS, Aix-Marseille Université, Centrale Marseille, Institut Fresnel , UMR 7249, 13013 Marseille, France
| | - Patrick Ferrand
- CNRS, Aix-Marseille Université, Centrale Marseille, Institut Fresnel , UMR 7249, 13013 Marseille, France
| | - Gérard Colas des Francs
- Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, CNRS, Laboratoire Interdisciplinaire Carnot de Bourgogne (ICB) , UMR 6303, 21078 Dijon, France
| | - Jérôme Wenger
- CNRS, Aix-Marseille Université, Centrale Marseille, Institut Fresnel , UMR 7249, 13013 Marseille, France
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30
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Bouchet D, Cao D, Carminati R, De Wilde Y, Krachmalnicoff V. Long-Range Plasmon-Assisted Energy Transfer between Fluorescent Emitters. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2016; 116:037401. [PMID: 26849613 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.116.037401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
We demonstrate plasmon-assisted energy transfer between fluorophores located at distances up to 7 μm on the top of a thin silver film. Thanks to the strong confinement and large propagation length of surface plasmon polaritons, the range of the energy transfer is almost 2 orders of magnitude larger than the values reported in the literature so far. The parameters driving the energy transfer range are thoroughly characterized and are in very good agreement with theoretically expected values.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Bouchet
- ESPCI ParisTech, PSL Research University, CNRS, Institut Langevin, 1 rue Jussieu, F-75005 Paris, France
| | - D Cao
- ESPCI ParisTech, PSL Research University, CNRS, Institut Langevin, 1 rue Jussieu, F-75005 Paris, France
| | - R Carminati
- ESPCI ParisTech, PSL Research University, CNRS, Institut Langevin, 1 rue Jussieu, F-75005 Paris, France
| | - Y De Wilde
- ESPCI ParisTech, PSL Research University, CNRS, Institut Langevin, 1 rue Jussieu, F-75005 Paris, France
| | - V Krachmalnicoff
- ESPCI ParisTech, PSL Research University, CNRS, Institut Langevin, 1 rue Jussieu, F-75005 Paris, France
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31
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Ghenuche P, Mivelle M, de Torres J, Moparthi SB, Rigneault H, Van Hulst NF, García-Parajó MF, Wenger J. Matching Nanoantenna Field Confinement to FRET Distances Enhances Förster Energy Transfer Rates. NANO LETTERS 2015; 15:6193-6201. [PMID: 26237534 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.5b02535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) is widely applied in chemistry, biology, and nanosciences to assess distances on sub-10 nm scale. Extending the range and applicability of FRET requires enhancement of the fluorescence energy transfer at a spatial scale comparable to the donor-acceptor distances. Plasmonic nanoantennas are ideal to concentrate optical fields at a nanoscale fully matching the FRET distance range. Here, we present a resonant aluminum nanogap antenna tailored to enhance single molecule FRET. A 20 nm gap confines light into a nanoscale volume, providing a field gradient on the scale of the donor-acceptor distance, a large 10-fold increase in the local density of optical states, and strong intensity enhancement. With our dedicated design, we obtain 20-fold enhancement on the fluorescence emission of donor and acceptor dyes, and most importantly up to 5-fold enhancement of the FRET rate for donor-acceptor separations of 10 nm. We also provide a thorough framework of the fluorescence photophysics occurring in the nanoscale gap volume. The presented enhancement of energy transfer flow at the nanoscale opens a yet unexplored facet of the various advantages of optical nanoantennas and provides a new strategy toward biological applications of single molecule FRET at micromolar concentrations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petru Ghenuche
- CNRS, Aix-Marseille Université, Centrale Marseille, Institut Fresnel, UMR 7249, 13013 Marseille, France
| | - Mathieu Mivelle
- ICFO-Institut de Ciencies Fotoniques, Mediterranean Technology Park, 08860 Castelldefels, Spain
| | - Juan de Torres
- CNRS, Aix-Marseille Université, Centrale Marseille, Institut Fresnel, UMR 7249, 13013 Marseille, France
| | - Satish Babu Moparthi
- CNRS, Aix-Marseille Université, Centrale Marseille, Institut Fresnel, UMR 7249, 13013 Marseille, France
| | - Hervé Rigneault
- CNRS, Aix-Marseille Université, Centrale Marseille, Institut Fresnel, UMR 7249, 13013 Marseille, France
| | - Niek F Van Hulst
- ICFO-Institut de Ciencies Fotoniques, Mediterranean Technology Park, 08860 Castelldefels, Spain
- ICREA-Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats, Barcelona 08010, Spain
| | - María F García-Parajó
- ICFO-Institut de Ciencies Fotoniques, Mediterranean Technology Park, 08860 Castelldefels, Spain
- ICREA-Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats, Barcelona 08010, Spain
| | - Jérôme Wenger
- CNRS, Aix-Marseille Université, Centrale Marseille, Institut Fresnel, UMR 7249, 13013 Marseille, France
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