Surface plasmon-enhanced nano-optic devices and methods of making same

Abstract

A nanostructured optical device includes a metal film or a plurality of metal islands having an array of a plurality of openings having a width that is less than at least one first predetermined wavelength of incident radiation to be provided onto the film or the islands. The metal film or islands are configured such that the incident radiation is resonant with at least one plasmon mode on the metal film or metal islands.

1 . An optical analyte detection system, comprising: a photodetector; a wavelength separation device comprising: a metal film or a plurality of metal islands having a plurality of openings having a width that is less than at least one first predetermined wavelength of incident radiation to be provided onto the film or the islands; wherein the metal film or islands are configured such that the incident radiation is resonant with at least one plasmon mode on the metal film or metal islands, and transmission of radiation having at least a second peak wavelength and a third peak wavelength different from the second peak wavelength is enhanced through the plurality of openings in the metal film or the plurality of metal islands due to the resonance with the at least one plasmon mode; an excitation source adapted to cause analyte to emit radiation; and a processor which is adapted to determine information about an analyte from radiation emitted by the analyte and detected by the imaging system. 
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the excitation source comprises an optical excitation source. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , further comprising a polarizing filter between the optical excitation source and the wavelength separation device. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the wavelength separation device comprises a metal film or a plurality of metal islands having a two dimensional array of a plurality of openings having a width that is less than at least one first predetermined wavelength of incident radiation to be provided onto the film or the islands. 
     
     
         5 . An optical analyte detection system, comprising: a first means for causing analyte to emit first radiation; a second means for separating first radiation into transmitted radiation having a plurality of different of peak wavelengths enhanced by resonance with a plasmon mode on the second means; a third means for detecting the transmitted radiation; and a fourth means for determining information about the analyte from the detected transmitted radiation. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , further comprising an analyte holder. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the fourth means is a means for determining medical or biological information about the analyte located on the analyte holder based on a location on the analyte holder of the analyte which emits the first radiation. 
     
     
         8 . A method of determining information about an analyte, comprising: causing the analyte to emit first radiation; separating the first radiation into transmitted radiation having a plurality of different wavelengths enhanced by resonance with a plasmon mode on a wavelength separation device; detecting the transmitted radiation; and determining information about the analyte from the detected transmitted radiation. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein: the analyte comprises a biological material attached to a fluorophore; and the first radiation comprises radiation emitted by the fluorophore. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the step of determining information comprises determining medical or biological information about the analyte based on a location of the analyte which emits the first radiation.