Plasmonic and/or microcavity enhanced optical protein sensing
First Claim
1. A molecular sensor comprising:
- a longitudinal capillary column having a wall of known thickness and diameter, the column containing a medium including a target molecule sought to be detected, a plurality of optically interactive particles having at least one dimension that is at least on the order of about 10−
8 meters situated within the column, a flow inducer causing the target molecule to flow generally longitudinally through the column, an optical exciter positioned to introduce optical energy of known wavelength laterally with respect to the column so as to have a resonant mode within the capillary column wall optically coupled with the medium, and a detector positioned to detect Raman scattering occurring in the column due to the presence of the target molecule.
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Abstract
Instruments for molecular detection at the nano-molar to femto-molar concentration level include a longitudinal capillary column (10) of known wall thickness and diameter. The column (10) contains a medium (24) including a target molecule (30) and a plurality of optically interactive dielectric beads (26) on the order of about 10−6 meters up to about 10−3 meters and/or metal nanoparticles (31) on the order of 1-500 nm. A flow inducer (34) causes longitudinal movement of the target molecule within the column (10). A laser (14) introduces energy laterally with respect to the column (10) at a wavelength and in a direction selected to have a resonant mode within the capillary column wall (12) and couple to the medium (24). A detector (40) is positioned to detect Raman scattering occurring along the column (10) due to the presence of the target molecule.
25 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A molecular sensor comprising:
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a longitudinal capillary column having a wall of known thickness and diameter, the column containing a medium including a target molecule sought to be detected, a plurality of optically interactive particles having at least one dimension that is at least on the order of about 10−
8 meters situated within the column,a flow inducer causing the target molecule to flow generally longitudinally through the column, an optical exciter positioned to introduce optical energy of known wavelength laterally with respect to the column so as to have a resonant mode within the capillary column wall optically coupled with the medium, and a detector positioned to detect Raman scattering occurring in the column due to the presence of the target molecule. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of sensing a target biomolecule, the method comprising:
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providing a plasmonic substrate in the form of a bead having a minimum linear dimension in at least one direction of about 10−
8 meters, the bead comprising a metal surface;
providing a sample material proximate the surface of the plasmonic substrate by confining the sample material and plasmonic substrate within a column of known wall thickness;
irradiating the column and material therein using light comprising a wavelength such that a resonance mode optically coupled with the sample material is generated within the capillary column wall and Raman scattering occurs within the column;
collecting Raman scattered light from the sample material within the column;
detecting the collected Raman scattered light from the sample material; and
determining at least one characteristic of the target molecule within the sample material based on the detected Raman scattered light. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification