Nanoaperture fabrication via colloidal lithography for single molecule fluorescence analysis.
In single molecule fluorescence studies, background emission from labeled substrates often restricts their concentrations to non-physiological nanomolar values. One approach to address this challenge is the use of zero-mode waveguides (ZMWs), nanoscale holes in a thin metal film that physically and...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2019-01-01
|
| Series: | PLoS ONE |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0222964 |
| _version_ | 1818725686852976640 |
|---|---|
| author | Ryan M Jamiolkowski Kevin Y Chen Shane A Fiorenza Alyssa M Tate Shawn H Pfeil Yale E Goldman |
| author_facet | Ryan M Jamiolkowski Kevin Y Chen Shane A Fiorenza Alyssa M Tate Shawn H Pfeil Yale E Goldman |
| author_sort | Ryan M Jamiolkowski |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In single molecule fluorescence studies, background emission from labeled substrates often restricts their concentrations to non-physiological nanomolar values. One approach to address this challenge is the use of zero-mode waveguides (ZMWs), nanoscale holes in a thin metal film that physically and optically confine the observation volume allowing much higher concentrations of fluorescent substrates. Standard fabrication of ZMWs utilizes slow and costly E-beam nano-lithography. Herein, ZMWs are made using a self-assembled mask of polystyrene microspheres, enabling fabrication of thousands of ZMWs in parallel without sophisticated equipment. Polystyrene 1 μm dia. microbeads self-assemble on a glass slide into a hexagonal array, forming a mask for the deposition of metallic posts in the inter-bead interstices. The width of those interstices (and subsequent posts) is adjusted within 100-300 nm by partially fusing the beads at the polystyrene glass transition temperature. The beads are dissolved in toluene, aluminum or gold cladding is deposited around the posts, and those are dissolved, leaving behind an array ZMWs. Parameter optimization and the performance of the ZMWs are presented. By using colloidal self-assembly, typical laboratories can make use of sub-wavelength ZMW technology avoiding the availability and expense of sophisticated clean-room environments and equipment. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-17T21:46:16Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e4b24f5c9dfe46599509e528b681fcf6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1932-6203 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-17T21:46:16Z |
| publishDate | 2019-01-01 |
| publisher | Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PLoS ONE |
| spelling | doaj.art-e4b24f5c9dfe46599509e528b681fcf62022-12-21T21:31:28ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032019-01-011410e022296410.1371/journal.pone.0222964Nanoaperture fabrication via colloidal lithography for single molecule fluorescence analysis.Ryan M JamiolkowskiKevin Y ChenShane A FiorenzaAlyssa M TateShawn H PfeilYale E GoldmanIn single molecule fluorescence studies, background emission from labeled substrates often restricts their concentrations to non-physiological nanomolar values. One approach to address this challenge is the use of zero-mode waveguides (ZMWs), nanoscale holes in a thin metal film that physically and optically confine the observation volume allowing much higher concentrations of fluorescent substrates. Standard fabrication of ZMWs utilizes slow and costly E-beam nano-lithography. Herein, ZMWs are made using a self-assembled mask of polystyrene microspheres, enabling fabrication of thousands of ZMWs in parallel without sophisticated equipment. Polystyrene 1 μm dia. microbeads self-assemble on a glass slide into a hexagonal array, forming a mask for the deposition of metallic posts in the inter-bead interstices. The width of those interstices (and subsequent posts) is adjusted within 100-300 nm by partially fusing the beads at the polystyrene glass transition temperature. The beads are dissolved in toluene, aluminum or gold cladding is deposited around the posts, and those are dissolved, leaving behind an array ZMWs. Parameter optimization and the performance of the ZMWs are presented. By using colloidal self-assembly, typical laboratories can make use of sub-wavelength ZMW technology avoiding the availability and expense of sophisticated clean-room environments and equipment.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0222964 |
| spellingShingle | Ryan M Jamiolkowski Kevin Y Chen Shane A Fiorenza Alyssa M Tate Shawn H Pfeil Yale E Goldman Nanoaperture fabrication via colloidal lithography for single molecule fluorescence analysis. PLoS ONE |
| title | Nanoaperture fabrication via colloidal lithography for single molecule fluorescence analysis. |
| title_full | Nanoaperture fabrication via colloidal lithography for single molecule fluorescence analysis. |
| title_fullStr | Nanoaperture fabrication via colloidal lithography for single molecule fluorescence analysis. |
| title_full_unstemmed | Nanoaperture fabrication via colloidal lithography for single molecule fluorescence analysis. |
| title_short | Nanoaperture fabrication via colloidal lithography for single molecule fluorescence analysis. |
| title_sort | nanoaperture fabrication via colloidal lithography for single molecule fluorescence analysis |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0222964 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT ryanmjamiolkowski nanoaperturefabricationviacolloidallithographyforsinglemoleculefluorescenceanalysis AT kevinychen nanoaperturefabricationviacolloidallithographyforsinglemoleculefluorescenceanalysis AT shaneafiorenza nanoaperturefabricationviacolloidallithographyforsinglemoleculefluorescenceanalysis AT alyssamtate nanoaperturefabricationviacolloidallithographyforsinglemoleculefluorescenceanalysis AT shawnhpfeil nanoaperturefabricationviacolloidallithographyforsinglemoleculefluorescenceanalysis AT yaleegoldman nanoaperturefabricationviacolloidallithographyforsinglemoleculefluorescenceanalysis |