Microscopy method and system
AssigneeLa Trobe University
InventorsBrian Abbey, Eugeniu Balaur
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Abstract
A sample holder for use in an optical microscope is disclosed. The sample holder includes a plasmonic layer defining a periodic array of sub-micron structures wherein the periodic array of sub-micron structures comprise an array of separated plasmonic regions. The regions may be a circle, a torus, an ellipse, a cross, rectangle, square, line, strip. Methods of performing reflection and fluorescence microscopy using such a sample holder and other sample holders are also disclosed.
Claims34
A sample holder for use in an optical microscope, the sample holder including:
- a plasmonic layer defining a periodic array of sub-micron structures;
- and
- wherein the sample holder is configured to support an object such that the periodic array of sub-micron structures is adjacent the object when supporting the object;
- wherein the periodic array of sub-micron structures comprise an array of separated plasmonic regions.
The sample holder as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the periodic array is a 1-dimensional or 2 dimensional array.
The sample holder as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the sub-micron structures have a largest dimension in the range of 50 nm to 300 nm.
The sample holder as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the sub-micron structures are regions of plasmonic material about between 100 nm and 200 nm across.
The sample holder as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the plasmonic regions are shaped as any one or more of:
- a circle, a torus, an ellipse, a cross, rectangle, square, line, strip.
The sample holder as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the plasmonic is formed from one or more metals selected from any one of:
- Al, Ag, Au, Ni, Pt and Pd.
The sample holder as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the plasmonic layer has a thickness in the range of 20 nm to 300 nm.
The sample holder as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the array of separated plasmonic regions are arranged in an array with equal or unequal spacing between neighbouring plasmonic regions in a first and a second direction.
The sample holder as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the sample holder includes a substrate connected to at least a portion of a first surface of the plasmonic layer to provide mechanical support for the plasmonic layer.
The sample holder as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the sample holder is arranged in use to enable light, which is transmitted through the sample to the plasmonic layer to be reflected from the sample holder for the creation of images comprising the reflected light.
A method of imaging a sample comprising:
- Providing a sample holder having an upper surface face and a lower surface, the upper surface having a plasmonic layer associated therewith, the plasmonic layer including a periodic array of sub-micron structures;
- Applying the sample to the upper surface of the sample holder;
- Illuminating the sample with light so that said light interacts with the sample and sample holder;
- Receiving light emitted from the sample by fluorescence and forming an image thereof.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.