Abstract
We investigated the signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) of real-time single-molecule fluorescence imaging (SMFI) using zero-mode waveguides (ZMWs). The excitation light and the fluorescence propagating from a molecule in the ZMW were analyzed by computational optics simulation. The dependence of the S/N on the ZMW structure was investigated with the diameter and etching depth as the simulation parameters. We found that the SMFI using a conventional ZMW was near the critical level for detecting binding and dissociation events. We show that etching the glass surface of the ZMW by 60 nm enhances the S/N six times the conventional nonetched ZMWs. The enhanced S/N improves the temporal resolution of the SMFI at physiological concentrations.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 012727 |
Journal | Physical Review E - Statistical, Nonlinear, and Soft Matter Physics |
Volume | 88 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2013 Jul 30 |
Externally published | Yes |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Statistical and Nonlinear Physics
- Statistics and Probability
- Condensed Matter Physics