Biophotonics: Novel Lanthanide Bioassays

Sri International, Menlo Park CA

Investigators

Abstract

Faris 0523077 This proposal outlines a project to develop functionalized molecular probes based on resonance enhancement of weakly fluorescent or luminescent lanthanide chelates. Lanthanide chelates have several attractive properties for use as fluorescent indicators, but suffer from low absorption cross-sections and quantum efficiency. The brightness of lanthanide chelates can be enhanced in the presence of metal particles or islands that act as antennas. Since this enhancement varies with proximity, the enhancement can be use as a functionalizing, or activation strategy for reporting local biological activity. This proposal will focus on low quantum efficiency lanthanide chelates which have received little attention but stand to have the largest relative enhancement effect, and therefore the greatest dynamic range as a reporting agent.