title: Optical detection of single molecules.
abstract: Recent advances in ultrasensitive instrumentation have allowed for the detection, identification, and dynamic studies of single molecules in the condensed phase. This measurement capability provides a new set of tools for scientists to address important current problems and to explore new frontiers in many scientific disciplines, such as chemistry, molecular biology, molecular medicine, and nanostructured materials. This review focuses on the methodologies and biological applications of single-molecule detection based on laser-induced fluorescence.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Indiana University, Bloomington 47405, USA. nie@indiana.edu
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nie
authors.forename: R N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Zare
mesh_terms: D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis*; D005453:Fluorescence; D055095:Optics and Photonics; D011506:Proteins / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D011506:Proteins; D004247:DNA