title: Enhanced Fluorescence from Fluorophores on Fractal Silver Surfaces.
abstract: Recent reports have shown enhanced fluorescence for fluorophores in close proximity to chemically deposited silver islands or colloids. To expand the usefulness of metal-enhanced fluorescence we tested fractal silver structures formed on, or near, silver electrodes by passage of electric currents. The emission intensity of fluorescein-labeled human serum albumin (FITC-HSA) was enhanced over 100-fold when adsorbed to the fractal silver structures as compared to glass. The amplitude-weighted lifetime is dramatically reduced to near 3 ps. Enhanced fluorescence was shown to result in selective observation of FITC-HSA over a fluorophore not attached to the silver surface. And finally, photostability measurements indicate 160-fold more photons are detectable from FITC-HSA on the fractal silver surface. These results suggest the use of in situ generated silver structures for metal-enhanced fluorescence.
authors.affiliation: Center for Fluorescence Spectroscopy, University of Maryland at Baltimore, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 725 West Lombard Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21201.
authors.forename: Alexandr
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Parfenov
authors.forename: Ignacy
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Gryczynski
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Malicka
authors.forename: Chris D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Geddes
authors.forename: Joseph R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Lakowicz