Research Highlight #17:

Surface-plasmon-enhanced fluorescence from periodic quantum dot arrays through distance control using biomolecular linkers

M. T. Zin, K. Leong, N-Y. Wong, H. Ma, M. Sarikaya and A. K-Y. Jen;
Materials Science & Engineering and Microbiology, University of Washington

We have developed a protein-enabled strategy to fabricate quantum dot (QD) nanoarrays where up to a 15-fold increase in surface-plasmon-enhanced fluorescence has been achieved. This approach permits a comprehensive control both laterally (via lithographically defined gold nanoarrays) and vertically (via the QD–metal distance) of the collectively behaving assemblies of QDs and gold nanoarrays by way of biomolecular recognition. Specifically, we demonstrated the spectral tuning of plasmon resonant metal nanoarrays and self-assembly of protein-functionalized QDs in a stepwise fashion with a concomitant incremental increase in separation from the metal surface through biotin–streptavidin spacer units.

Contact A. K.Y. Jen, for more details, ajen@u.washington.edu.

Nanotechnology, 20 016305 (2009).