Amplified protein sensing using deep purple fluorophores on homogeneous Au substrates

We report here the first observation of appreciable enhancement of fluorescence induced by large Au colloids. Au monolayers with Au colloids of 40 nm, 59 nm, and 81 nm in radii, were formed on silane modified glass surfaces, respectively. The nanoparticle densities were varied by varying the deposition times and documented by scanning electron microscopy. Two types of samples were prepared, with large inter-particle distance and hence little or no inter-particle coupling and small inter-particle distance with inter-particle coupling. The fluorescence enhancement was examined by using a self assembled monolayer of the fluorophore-protein conjugate with Deep Purple as a fluorophore and Bovine Serum Albumin as protein (DP-BSA). The data show the over 15 fold enhancement under optimized conditions and reveal strong variations with both inter-particle distance and particle size. Nanostructures of appropriate size with optimized inter-particle distance thus prepared can produce promising substrates for decent fluorescence enhancement. We demonstrated that the Au colloid monolayers on glass surfaces are promising substrates for fluorescence enhancement with outstanding macroscopic homogeneity. This important feature will pave the way for the application of our substrates in biotechnology and life sciences such as imaging and sensing of biomolecules in proteomics.