title: Enhancing single-molecule fluorescence with nanophotonics.
abstract: Single-molecule fluorescence spectroscopy has become an important research tool in the life sciences but a number of limitations hinder the widespread use as a standard technique. The limited dynamic concentration range is one of the major hurdles. Recent developments in the nanophotonic field promise to alleviate these restrictions to an extent that even low affinity biomolecular interactions can be studied. After motivating the need for nanophotonics we introduce the basic concepts of nanophotonic devices such as zero mode waveguides and nanoantennas. We highlight current applications and the future potential of nanophotonic approaches when combined with biological systems and single-molecule spectroscopy.
authors.affiliation: NanoBioSciences Group, Institute for Physical and Theoretical Chemistry, Hans-Sommer-Strasse 10, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany. Electronic address: g.acuna@tu-bs.de.
authors.forename: Guillermo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Acuna
authors.affiliation: NanoBioSciences Group, Institute for Physical and Theoretical Chemistry, Hans-Sommer-Strasse 10, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany. Electronic address: d.grohmann@tu-bs.de.
authors.forename: Dina
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Grohmann
authors.affiliation: NanoBioSciences Group, Institute for Physical and Theoretical Chemistry, Hans-Sommer-Strasse 10, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany. Electronic address: p.tinnefeld@tu-braunschweig.de.
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tinnefeld
mesh_terms: D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D055620:Optical Phenomena; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence / Q000379:methods*
keywords: Fluorescence enhancement; Nanophotonics; Plasmonics; Single molecule fluorescence