title: Aluminum nanoparticles as substrates for metal-enhanced fluorescence in the ultraviolet for the label-free detection of biomolecules.
abstract: We use finite-difference time-domain calculations to show that aluminum nanoparticles are efficient substrates for metal-enhanced fluorescence (MEF) in the ultraviolet (UV) for the label-free detection of biomolecules. The radiated power enhancement of the fluorophores in proximity to aluminum nanoparticles is strongly dependent on the nanoparticle size, fluorophore-nanoparticle spacing, and fluorophore orientation. Additionally, the enhancement is dramatically increased when the fluorophore is between two aluminum nanoparticles of a dimer. Finally, we present experimental evidence that functionalized forms of amino acids tryptophan and tyrosine exhibit MEF when spin-coated onto aluminum nanostructures.
authors.affiliation: Center for Fluorescence Spectroscopy, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 725 West Lombard Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21201, USA.
authors.forename: Mustafa H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Chowdhury
authors.forename: Krishanu
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ray
authors.forename: Stephen K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Gray
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pond
authors.forename: Joseph R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Lakowicz
mesh_terms: D000042:Absorption; D000535:Aluminum / Q000737:chemistry*; D000596:Amino Acids / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D005453:Fluorescence; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D010316:Particle Size; D011506:Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D013997:Time Factors; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D011506:Proteins; D000535:Aluminum