Activation of optical nanomaterial signals through formation of nanoclusters

Activation of optical nanomaterial signals through formation of nanoclusters

The high surface area to volume ratio of nanomaterials leads to high background binding levels. Therefore to improve detection specificity, we are developing a novel scheme to change the nonomaterical probe signal upon attachment to target molecules. The basis of this strategy is to utilize our bioorthogonal chemical coupling scheme to form controlled nanomaterial clusters. Specifically, we seek to harness the changes in resonance phenomena that accompany the clustering of quantum dots (fluorescence lifetime) and gold nanoparticles (plasmonic scattering). This will improve detection specificity because signals from the non-specific background will be clearly distinguishable from the specifically-bound nanoclusters.