title: Enhanced live cell membrane imaging using surface plasmon-enhanced total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy.
abstract: Using a total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy (TIRFM) technique to image live cells on a biosurface not only provides an enhanced understanding of cellular functions, but also improves the signal-to-noise ratio of the images. However, the intensity of the fluorescence signal must be increased if a more dynamic biomolecular imaging capability is required. Accordingly, this study presents a surface plasmon-enhanced TIRFM technique in which the fluorescence signals are enhanced via surface plasmons offered by a silver nanolayer. The developed microscopy technique is successfully applied to the real-time observation of the thrombomodulin proteins of live cell membranes. The experimental results and the simulation results demonstrate that the live cell membrane images obtained in the proposed surface plasmon-enhanced TIRFM technique are brighter by approximately one order of magnitude than those provided by conventional TIRFM.
authors.forename: Ruei-Yu
authors.initials: RY
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Guan-Liang
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Hua-Lin
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Chi-Hung
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Kuo-Chih
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Chiu
authors.forename: Yuan-Deng
authors.initials: YD
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: Shean-Jen
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Chen