title: Note: A method to isolate and detect a large number of single molecules by microdroplet fluorescence spectroscopy.
abstract: A laser induced fluorescence system, in combination with a glass-frit nebulizer and a photo-voltaic cell detector, is described for single molecule detection. The glass-frit nebulizer continuously generates a large number of droplets with an average droplet size of three micrometers in diameter. Rhodamine 6G molecules were detected at the 10(-12) M level. Concentrations 10(-12)-10(-10) M would provide mostly single molecules (0, 1, 2, 3, ...) in the individual droplets, as determined by Poisson distribution.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, 2555 East San Ramon Ave., M/S SB70, California State University, Fresno, California 93740-8034, USA. kinn@csufresno.edu
authors.forename: K C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Heredia
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kliewer