Abstract

A simple and cost-effective method is proposed herein for a plasmonic nanoantenna array (PNAA) for the fabrication of metal-enhanced fluorescence (MEF) substrates in which fluorophores interact with the enhanced electromagnetic field generated by a localized surface plasmon to provide a higher fluorescence signal. The PNAA is fabricated by the deposition of a silver (Ag) layer on an ultraviolet (UV) nanoimprinted nanodot array with a pitch of 400 nm, diameter of 200 nm, and height of 100 nm. During deposition, raised Ag nanodisks and a lower Ag layer are, respectively, formed on the top and bottom of the imprinted nanodot array, and the gap between these Ag layers acts as a plasmonic nanoantenna. Since the thickness of the gap within the PNAA is influenced by the thickness of Ag deposition, the effects of the latter upon the geometrical properties of the fabricated PNAA are examined, and the electromagnetic field intensity distributions of PNAAs with various Ag thicknesses are simulated. Finally, the fluorescence enhancement factor (FEF) of the fabricated PNAA MEF substrate is measured using spotted Cy5-conjugated streptavidin to indicate a maximum enhancement factor of ~22× for the PNAA with an Ag layer thickness of 75 nm. The experimental results are shown to match the simulated results.

Highlights

  • Fluorescence-based detection technology has been widely used for the analysis of protein and DNA microarray biosensors

  • A UV-imprinted polymeric nanodot array was demonstrated as a scaffold of a metallic nanostructure due to its cost-effectiveness in the fabrication of large-area nanostructures

  • The metal-enhanced fluorescence (MEF) substrate consisting of three-dimensional plasmonic nanoantenna array (PNAA) with narrow nanogaps was achieved via UV-nanoimprinting and Ag vapor deposition processes

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Summary

Introduction

Fluorescence-based detection technology has been widely used for the analysis of protein and DNA microarray biosensors. To apply the MEF technique to microarray biosensors, a low-cost method for the fabrication of a uniform metallic nanostructure on a 25 × 75 mm2 glass slide substrate with a high fluorescence enhancement factor (FEF) is required.

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