Apparatus for single-molecule detection
AssigneeIndustrial Technology Research Institute
InventorsChung-Fan Chiou, Rung-Ywan Tsai, Yu-Tang Li, Chih-Tsung Shih, Ming-Chia Li, Chang-Sheng Chu, Shuang-Chao Chung, Jung-Po Chen, Ying-Chih Pu
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Abstract
An apparatus for detecting an object capable of emitting light. The apparatus includes a light source and a waveguide. The waveguide includes a core layer and a first cladding layer. At least one nanowell is formed in at least the first cladding layer. The apparatus further includes a light detector. The light detector can detect a light emitted from a single molecule object contained in the at least one nanowell.
Claims52
A single molecule detection apparatus, comprising:
- a) a waveguide comprising:
- a core layer;
- and
- a first cladding layer made of a dielectric material, wherein
- at least one nanowell is formed in at least the first cladding layer, and
- an upper opening of the at least one nanowell is larger than a bottom of the at least one nanowell;
- b) a first opaque protection layer arranged over the first cladding layer without extending into the at least one nanowell;
- c) a second opaque protection layer arranged below the waveguide, the second opaque protection layer having a nanostructured metal pattern;
- and
- d) at least one light detector.
A method of detecting a single molecule, comprising:
- emitting, by a light source, an incident light;
- coupling, by a coupler, the incident light into a waveguide, forming an excitation light in the waveguide;
- forming, by the excitation light and at least one nanowell formed in at least a cladding layer of the waveguide, an effective excitation zone, the cladding layer being formed of a dielectric material, a first opaque protection layer being arranged over the cladding layer without extending into the at least one nanowell, a second opaque protection layer arranged below the waveguide, the second opaque protection layer having a nanostructured metal pattern, and an upper opening of the at least one nanowell being larger than a bottom of the at least one nanowell;
- locating a single molecule object in the effective excitation zone;
- and
- exciting, by the excitation light, the single molecule object in the effective excitation zone, to cause the single molecule object to emit a light to be detected by a light detector.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.