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US 2010/0144557 A1Published application
Plasmon fluorescence augmentation for chemical and biological testing apparatus
OwnerWayne E. Mooreinventor
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Abstract
The sensitivity and durability of fluorescent assays may be increased through structures and methods using plasmon fluorescence augmentation and sealing of the structure against degradation by reagents used in the assay. The resulting structures make practical extremely sensitive fluorescent assays for DNA and other biological analytes.
Claims19
A structure for augmenting fluorescent emission from fluorescent molecules comprising:
- a substrate,
- an enhancing layer coating all or part of the surface of the substrate,
- the enhancing layer comprising a nanostructured film of electrically-conductive material disposed above the substrate, the nanostructured film having features with a diameter of less than about 300 nm,
- an optional aqueous impervious layer, the aqueous impervious layer substantially sealing the nanostructured film layer against contact with aqueous solutions, and
- a spacer layer of resonant thickness.
2 more elements
A structure for augmenting fluorescence emission from fluorescent molecules comprising:
- a substrate,
- a nanostructured film of aluminum metal alloy deposited on all or part of the substrate,
- a spacer layer of optically transparent material deposited on top of the nanostructured film.
A structure for augmenting fluorescent emission from fluorescent molecules comprising:
- a substrate,
- a first enhancing layer coating all or part of the surface of the substrate,
- the first enhancing layer comprising a first nanostructured film of electrically-conductive material disposed above the substrate, the nanostructured film having surface features with a diameter of less than about 300 nm,
- an optional aqueous impervious layer, the aqueous impervious layer sealing the first nanostructured film layer against contact with aqueous solutions,
- a first spacer layer disposed over and attached to the optional aqueous impervious layer if said aqueous impervious layer is used or attached directly to the nanostructured film if the optional aqueous impervious layer is not used,
- a second nanostructured film of electrically-conductive material disposed above the spacer layer, the second nanostructured film having surface features with a diameter of less than about 300 nm, the second nanostructured film being optically less dense than the first nanostructured film,
- an optional second spacer layer deposited above the second nanostructured film, and
- an optional binding layer disposed above and attached to the second spacer layer, the binding layer capable of binding with a fluorescent compound or a biomolecule.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.