Single-molecule probes

Laurie S. Goldner; Kenneth D. Weston; William F. Heinz; Jeeseong Hwang; Eric S. DeJong; John P. Marino

doi:10.1117/12.431255

18 June 2001 Single-molecule probes

Laurie S. Goldner, Kenneth D. Weston, William F. Heinz, Jeeseong Hwang, Eric S. DeJong, John P. Marino

Proceedings Volume 4450, Harnessing Light: Optical Science and Metrology at NIST; (2001) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.431255
Event: International Symposium on Optical Science and Technology, 2001, San Diego, CA, United States

Abstract

The technology to rapidly manipulate and screen individual molecules lies at the frontier of measurement science, with impacts in bio- and nano-technology. Fundamental biological and chemical processes can now be probed with unprecedented detail, one molecule at a time. These single molecule probes are most often fluorescent dye molecules embedded in a material or attached to a target molecule, such as a protein or nucleic acid, whose behavior us under study. The fluorescence from a single dye molecule can be detected, its spectrum and lifetime measured and its absorption or emission dipole calculated. From this information, the rotational and translational dynamics of the fluorophore can be calculated, as can details of its photophysics. To the extent that these properties reflect the properties of the target molecule, we can use these fluorescent tags to probe the dynamics and structure of the target. In this work we discuss the dependence of the physical and photophysical dynamics of fluorescent molecules on their local environment, and we use confocal microscopy to study single molecules in thin films, on surfaces, and in various liquid and gaseous environments.

Citation Download Citation

Laurie S. Goldner, Kenneth D. Weston, William F. Heinz, Jeeseong Hwang, Eric S. DeJong, and John P. Marino "Single-molecule probes", Proc. SPIE 4450, Harnessing Light: Optical Science and Metrology at NIST, (18 June 2001); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.431255

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available