Single molecule fluorescence analysis in solution
- Chemical Science and Technology Division, and Life Sciences Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545 (United States)
Over the past decade, the sensitivity of laser-based fluorescence detection has developed to the point where it is now possible to detect and identify single fluorescent molecules in fluid solution. As a single fluorescent molecule passes through a focused laser beam, it is continuously cycled between its ground and first excited electronic states and emits a burst of photons. If the detection volume is small enough, this burst of photons can be distinguished over the background emission from the solvent. Approximately one dozen different molecules have been detected at the single molecule level. Applications of this technology will impact all areas where sensitive fluorescence detection is an issue. Application areas include analytical chemistry, biology, medicine, and environmental chemistry. In this article, we describe our approach to single molecule detection and explore assays that can be done at the single molecule level that would be difficult or impossible in bulk solution. Particular applications discussed include: rare event detection, probe/target binding, and molecular dynamics at the single molecule level. {copyright} {ital 1996} {ital Society for Applied Spectroscopy}
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- OSTI ID:
- 542535
- Journal Information:
- Applied Spectroscopy, Vol. 50, Issue 7; Other Information: PBD: Jul 1996
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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