Plasmonic Fluorescence Microarray Detection System

描述（由申请人提供）：拟议项目I的长期目标是开发一种经济实惠，高度并行和高灵敏度的蛋白质和DMA芯片应用检测系统。该系统基于一种新型荧光检测技术，其灵敏度可能比当前最先进的荧光成像系统高10到1000倍。重要的是，提出的技术将实现相对便宜的CCD成像仪器和低成本的一次性芯片。提出的荧光检测灵敏度增强的原理是一种称为表面等离子体耦合荧光（SPCF）的现象。所提出的技术的基础取决于两个关键要素：金属涂层的塑料传感器芯片，其具有周期性表面特征，可以将光辐射谐振耦合到表面等离子体，以及具有界面结构的表面化学，可以将检测荧光染料（例如荧光抗体偶联物）定位在金属表面10-200nm范围内。利用这种结构，在适当的激发条件下，荧光发射以两种显著的方式改变。一是增强了激发场，二是提高了发射的方向性，大大提高了光收集效率。第一阶段的具体目标是1)建立一个实验装置来测试所提出的概念，2)制造具有适当接口架构的芯片，以及3)表征系统的性能。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The long term objective of the proposed project I is to develop an affordable, highly parallel and highly sensitive detection system for protein and DMA chip applications. This system is based on a novel fluorescence detection technology with the potential for 10- to 1000-fold higher sensitivity than current state of- the-art fluorescence imaging systems. Importantly, the proposed technology will be implemented with relatively inexpensive CCD imaging instrumentation and with low-cost disposable chips. The principle behind the proposed enhancement in fluorescence detection sensitivity is a phenomenon known as surface plasmon coupled fluorescence (SPCF). The basis for the proposed technology rests on two key elements: a metal-coated, plastic sensor chip with periodic surface features that enable resonant coupling of optical radiation into surface plasmons, and surface chemistry with an interfacial architecture that enables positioning of the detection fluorescent dyes (e.g., fluorescent antibody conjugates) within 10-200nm of the metal surface. With this architecture and under appropriate excitations conditions, fluorescence emission is modified in two striking ways. First, the excitation field is enhanced, and second emission is highly directional, which can vastly improved optical collection efficiency. The specific aims of the Phase I are to 1) set up an experimental apparatus to test the proposed concept, 2) to fabricate chips with the appropriate interfacial architecture, and 3) to characterize the performance of the system. Expected future products (instrument and disposable chips) will be initially targeted to the analytical microchip market, the fastest growing technology segment in the life sciences today. The range of applications is very broad, covering fields as diverse as pharmaceutical development, food testing, clinical diagnostics, forensics, environmental analysis, bioprocess monitoring and biodefense.