Directing Single-Molecule Emission with DNA Origami-Assembled Optical Antennas

Abstract

We demonstrate the capability of DNA selfassembledoptical antennas to direct the emission of anindividual fluorophore, which is free to rotate. DNA origami isused to fabricate optical antennas composed of two colloidalgold nanoparticles separated by a predefined gap and to place asingle Cy5 fluorophore near the gap center. Although thefluorophore is able to rotate, its excitation and far-field emissionis mediated by the antenna, with the emission directionalityfollowing a dipolar pattern according to the antenna mainresonant mode. This work is intended to set out the basis formanipulating the emission pattern of single molecules with selfassembledoptical antennas based on colloidal nanoparticles.