Abstract
The capability of imaging and detecting single DNA molecules is critical in the study, analysis, and applications of DNA. Fluorescence imaging is a widely used method, but it suffers from blinking and photobleaching, and fluorescence tags may block or affect binding sites on DNA. We report on label-free imaging of single DNA molecules with a differential plasmonic imaging technique. The technique produces high contrast images due to the scattering of surface plasmonic waves by the molecules and the removal of background noises and interference patterns, allowing for quantitative analysis of individual DNA molecules. Simulation of the images based on a scattering model shows good agreement with the experiment. We further demonstrate optical mapping of single DNA molecules.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 3427-3433 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | ACS nano |
Volume | 8 |
Issue number | 4 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Apr 22 2014 |
Keywords
- label-free imaging
- optical mapping
- single molecule analysis
- surface plasmon resonance microscopy
- λ-DNA
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Materials Science
- General Engineering
- General Physics and Astronomy