Ultracompact alignment-free single molecule fluorescence device with a foldable light path

Niraj Kumar Singh; Jenu V. Chacko; Suman Nag; Sudipta Maiti; Varun K. A. Sreenivasan

doi:10.1117/1.3548311

1 February 2011 Ultracompact alignment-free single molecule fluorescence device with a foldable light path

Niraj Kumar Singh, Jenu V. Chacko, Suman Nag, Sudipta Maiti, Varun K. A. Sreenivasan

Author Affiliations +

Journal of Biomedical Optics, Vol. 16, Issue 2, 025004 (February 2011). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.3548311

Abstract

Instruments with single-molecule level detection capabilities can potentially benefit a wide variety of fields, including medical diagnostics. However, the size, cost, and complexity of such devices have prevented their widespread use outside sophisticated research laboratories. Fiber-only devices have recently been suggested as smaller and simpler alternatives, but thus far, they have lacked the resolution and sensitivity of a full-fledged system, and accurate alignment remains a critical requirement. Here we show that through-space reciprocal optical coupling between a fiber and a microscope objective, combined with wavelength division multiplexing in optical fibers, allows a drastic reduction of the size and complexity of such an instrument while retaining its resolution. We demonstrate a 4×4×18 cm³ sized fluorescence correlation spectrometer, which requires no alignment, can analyze kinetics at the single-molecule level, and has an optical resolution similar to that of much larger microscope based devices. The sensitivity can also be similar in principle, though in practice it is limited by the large background fluorescence of the commonly available optical fibers. We propose this as a portable and field deployable single molecule device with practical diagnostic applications.

©(2011) Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE)

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Niraj Kumar Singh, Jenu V. Chacko, Suman Nag, Sudipta Maiti, and Varun K. A. Sreenivasan "Ultracompact alignment-free single molecule fluorescence device with a foldable light path," Journal of Biomedical Optics 16(2), 025004 (1 February 2011). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.3548311

Published: 1 February 2011

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KEYWORDS

Luminescence

Fluorescence correlation spectroscopy

Objectives

Molecules

Fiber lasers

Mirrors

Microscopes

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