title: Diffraction-limited ultrasensitive molecular nano-arrays with singular nano-cone scattering.
abstract: Large-library fluorescent molecular arrays remain limited in sensitivity (1 × 10(6) molecules) and dynamic range due to background auto-fluorescence and scattering noise within a large (20-100 μm) fluorescent spot. We report an easily fabricated silica nano-cone array platform, with a detection limit of 100 molecules and a dynamic range that spans 6 decades, due to point (10 nm to 1 μm) illumination of preferentially absorbed tagged targets by singular scattering off wedged cones. Its fluorescent spot reaches diffraction-limited submicron dimensions, which are 10(4) times smaller in area than conventional microarrays, with comparable reduction in detection limit and amplification of dynamic range.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, USA.
authors.forename: Yunshan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, USA.
authors.forename: Ting-Chou
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Science, Engineering and Technology, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, VIC 3122, Australia.
authors.forename: Paul R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Stoddart
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, USA.
authors.forename: Hsueh-Chia
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Chang
references.citation: RNA. 2005 Sep;11(9):1461-70
references.pmid: 16043497
references.citation: Analyst. 2014 Jan 21;139(2):439-45
references.pmid: 24308031
references.citation: Phys Rev Lett. 2006 Apr 21;96(15):157402
references.pmid: 16712194
references.citation: Nucleic Acids Res. 2010 Apr;38(7):e98
references.pmid: 20081203
references.citation: Nature. 1996 Aug 22;382(6593):697-700
references.pmid: 8751439
references.citation: Analyst. 2011 Jan 21;136(2):327-31
references.pmid: 20944861
references.citation: Electrophoresis. 2006 Apr;27(7):1376-85
references.pmid: 16568404
references.citation: Opt Express. 2007 Sep 17;15(19):12131-44
references.pmid: 19547579
references.citation: Opt Express. 2013 Mar 11;21(5):6609-17
references.pmid: 23482232
references.citation: ACS Nano. 2009 Jul 28;3(7):1823-30
references.pmid: 19583249
references.citation: Anal Chem. 2005 Sep 1;77(17):5583-8
references.pmid: 16131069
references.citation: Nano Lett. 2010 Oct 13;10(10):4186-91
references.pmid: 20839832
references.citation: Lab Chip. 2010 Apr 7;10(7):828-31
references.pmid: 20379565
references.citation: Anal Bioanal Chem. 2010 Jan;396(1):53-71
references.pmid: 19916005
references.citation: Trends Mol Med. 2002 Jun;8(6):257-60
references.pmid: 12067606
references.citation: Opt Lett. 2014 Feb 1;39(3):582-5
references.pmid: 24487871
references.citation: Biomicrofluidics. 2013 Dec 04;7(6):61102
references.pmid: 24396534