Directional surface plasmon-coupled emission from a 3 nm green fluorescent protein monolayer

Yordan Kostov, Derek S. Smith, Leah Tolosa, Govind Rao, Ignacy Gryczynski, Zygmunt Gryczynski, Joanna Malicka, Joseph R. Lakowicz

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

27 Scopus citations

Abstract

High-sensitivity detection schemes are of great interest for a number of applications. Unfortunately, such schemes are usually high-cost. We demonstrate a low-cost approach to a high-sensitivity detection scheme based on surface plasmon-coupled emission (SPCE). The SPCE of a monomolecular layer of green fluorescent protein (GFP) is reported here. The protein was electrostatically attached to a thin, SiO2-protected silver film deposited on a quartz substrate. The visible, directional emission of GFP was observed at a sharp, well-defined angle of 47.5° from the normal to the coupling prism, and the spectrum corresponded to that of GFP. The SPCE resulting from the reverse Kretschmann configuration showed a 12-fold enhancement over the free space fluorescence. The directional emission was 97% p-polarized. The directionality and high polarization can be coupled with the intrinsic spectral resolution of SPCE to be used in the design miniaturized spectrofluorometers. The observation of SPCE in the visible region of the spectrum from a monolayer of protein opens up new possibilities in protein-based sensing.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1731-1735
Number of pages5
JournalBiotechnology Progress
Volume21
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 2005

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