title: Fast quantitative single-molecule detection at ultralow concentrations.
abstract: The applicability of single-molecule fluorescence assays in liquids is limited by diffusion to concentrations in the low picomolar range. Here, we demonstrate quantitative single-molecule detection at attomolar concentrations within 1 min by excitation and detection of fluorescence through a single-mode optical fiber in presence of turbulent flow. The combination of high detectability and short measurement times promises applications in ultrasensitive assays, sensors, and point-of-care medical diagnostics.
authors.affiliation: National Center of Competence for Research in Nanoscale Science (NCCR), Institute of Physics, Klingelbergstrasse 82, CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Haas
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Then
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wild
authors.forename: Wilfried
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Grange
authors.forename: Sylvain
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zorman
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hegner
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Calame
authors.forename: Ueli
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Aebi
authors.forename: Josef
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Flammer
authors.forename: Bert
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hecht
mesh_terms: D004058:Diffusion; D031541:Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000032:analysis*; D019095:Point-of-Care Systems; D045663:Quantum Dots; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D005456:Fluorescent Dyes