Zero-mode waveguides

• US 7,181,122 B1
• Filed: 12/20/2005
• Issued: 02/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cornell Research Foundation Incorporated (Cornell University)
• Original Assignee: Cornell Research Foundation Incorporated (Cornell University)
• Inventors: Craighead, Harold G., Korlach, Jonas, Turner, Stephen W., Webb, Watt W., Levene, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): HEALY, BRIAN
• Application Number:
  US11/313,971
• Publication Number:
  US 20070036502A1
• Time in Patent Office: 427 Days
• Field of Search: 385/12, 385/14, 385/27, 385/28, 385/123, 385/125, 385/129, 385/130, 385/131, 385/132, 385/146
• US Class Current: 385/132
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 20/00 Nanooptics, e.g. quantum optics or photonic crystals
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 35/00 Methods or apparatus for measurement or analysis of nanostructures
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/25 involving enzymes not classifiable in groups C12Q1/26 - C12Q1/66
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/6825 Nucleic acid detection involving sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/47 Scattering, i.e. diffuse reflection G01N21/25, G01N21/41 take precedence G01N21/55 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/6408 with measurement of decay time, time resolved fluorescence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/6428 Measuring fluorescence of fluorescent products of reactions or of fluorochrome labelled reactive substances, e.g. measuring quenching effects, using measuring "optrodes" in vivo A61B5/00; immunoassay G01N33/53
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/645 Specially adapted constructive features of fluorimeters
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/6452 Individual samples arranged in a regular 2D-array, e.g. multiwell plates
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/65 Raman scattering
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2333/9015 Ligases (6)
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/54373 involving physiochemical end-point determination, e.g. wave-guides, FETS, gratings
• CPC Class Codes: G01Q 60/22 Probes, their manufacture, or their related instrumentation, e.g. holders
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/10 of the optical waveguide type G02B6/02, G02B6/24 take precedence; devices or arrangements for the control of light by electric, magnetic, electro-magnetic or acoustic means G02F1/00; transferring the modulation of modulated light G02F2/00; optical logic elements G02F3/00; optical analogue/digital converters G02F7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/241 Light guide terminations

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a method and an apparatus for analysis of an analyte. The method involves providing a zero-mode waveguide which includes a cladding surrounding a core where the cladding is configured to preclude propagation of electromagnetic energy of a frequency less than a cutoff frequency longitudinally through the core of the zero-mode waveguide. The analyte is positioned in the core of the zero-mode waveguide and is then subjected, in the core of the zero-mode waveguide, to activating electromagnetic radiation of a frequency less than the cut-off frequency under conditions effective to permit analysis of the analyte in an effective observation volume which is more compact than if the analysis were carried out in the absence of the zero-mode waveguide.

Claims

1. A zero mode waveguide, comprising:

a substrate layer;

a cladding layer disposed upon the substrate layer; and

a core comprising a hole disposed through the cladding layer, wherein the hole is configured to substantially preclude electromagnetic energy of a frequency less than a cutoff frequency entering the core from propagating longitudinally through said zero mode waveguide.

2. The zero mode waveguide of claim 1, wherein the cladding layer comprises a metal film.

3. The zero mode waveguide of claim 2, wherein the metal film comprises a metal selected from the group consisting of aluminum, gold and chromium.

4. The zero mode waveguide of claim 1, wherein the hole comprises a diameter of less than about 100 nm.

5. The zero mode waveguide of claim 1, wherein the hole comprises a diameter that is between 1 nm and 100 nm.

6. The zero mode waveguide of claim 1, wherein the hoe comprises a diameter that is between 50 nm and 100 nm.

7. The zero mode waveguide of claim 1, wherein the hole comprises a diameter of between 30 nm and 100 nm.

8. The zero mode waveguide of claim 1, wherein the substrate is transparent.

9. The zero mode waveguide of claim 8, wherein the substrate is selected from glass and fused silica.

10. The zero mode waveguide of claim 1, further comprising a superstructure defining a well, wherein the substrate, cladding and core are disposed within the well.

11. The zero mode waveguide of claim 10, wherein the substrate, cladding and core are disposed at a bottom surface of the well.

12. A zero mode waveguide, comprising:

a transparent substrate layer;

a cladding layer disposed upon the substrate layer; and

a core comprising a hole disposed in the cladding layer, wherein the hole is dimensioned such that electromagnetic radiation entering the core provides an effective illumination volume that is substantially internal to the core of said zero mode waveguide.

13. The zero mode waveguide of claim 12, wherein electromagnetic radiation can enter the core through the transparent layer.

14. The zero mode waveguide of claim 12, wherein the cladding layer comprises a metal film.

15. The zero mode waveguide of claim 13, wherein the metal film comprises a metal selected from the group consisting of aluminum, gold and chromium.

16. The zero mode waveguide of claim 12, wherein the hole comprises a diameter of less than about 100 mm.

17. The zero mode waveguide of claim 12, wherein the hole comprises a diameter that is between 1 mm and 100 mm.

18. The zero mode waveguide of claim 12, wherein the hole comprises a diameter that is between 50 nm and 100 mm.

19. The zero mode waveguide of claim 12, wherein the hole comprises a diameter of between 30 nm and 100 nm.

20. The zero mode waveguide of claim 12, further comprising a superstructure defining a well, wherein the substrate, cladding and core are disposed within the well.

21. The zero mode waveguide of claim 12, wherein the hole is disposed completely through the cladding layer.

22. An array of zero mode waveguides, comprising

a transparent substrate layer;

a cladding layer disposed upon the substrate layer; and

a plurality of cores, wherein each of the plurality of cores comprises a hole disposed in the cladding layer and wherein the plurality of cores are configured to substantially preclude electromagnetic energy of a frequency less than a cutoff frequency entering the core from propagating longitudinally through said zero mode waveguide.

23. The array of claim 22, wherein at least one of the plurality of cores is less than about 100 nm in diameter.

24. The array of claim 22, wherein each of the plurality of cores is less than about 100 nm in diameter.

25. The array of claim 22, wherein each of the plurality of cores comprises a diameter between 1 nm and 100 nm.

26. The array of claim 22, wherein each of the plurality of cores comprises a diameter between 50 nm and 100 nm.

27. The array of claim 22, wherein each of the plurality of cores comprises a diameter between 30 nm and 100 nm.

28. The array of claim 22, further comprising a superstructure that defines a well, wherein the transparent substrate, cladding and plurality of cores are disposed at a bottom surface of the well.

29. The array of claim 28, wherein the superstructure comprises a plurality of additional wells, each of the plurality of additional wells having a separate array disposed therein, each array comprising a transparent substrate layer, a cladding layer disposed upon the substrate layer, and a plurality of cores disposed through the cladding layer, wherein each of the plurality of cores comprises a hole disposed through the cladding layer and wherein the plurality of cores are configured to substantially preclude electromagnetic energy of a frequency less than a cutoff frequency entering the core from propagating longitudinally therethrough.

30. The array of claim 22, wherein a diameter of each of the plurality of cores varies by less than 4 nm in diameter from each other of the plurality of cores.

31. The array of claim 22, wherein each of the plurality of cores is disposed completely through the cladding layer.