Inflow nano-optics from the near-to the far-field detection based on Metal-Enhanced Fluorescence signaling

Abstract

In this communication we evaluated the detection and tracking of Ultraluminescent gold core–shell nanoplatforms based on Metal-Enhanced Fluorescence (MEF) within colloidal dispersion by In-Flow Cytometry and Imaging Flow Cytometry (IFC). The enhanced properties were developed by the incorporation of Rhodamine B (RhB) as a laser dye reporter at variable controlled silica spacer lengths (Au@SiO2-RhB) from a gold core template. Thus, SiO2 was varied from 6 to 7 nm to 25 nm in order to place the laser dye sensitizer at different lengths of the higher electromagnetic fields surrounding the 45-nm gold core diameter. By Laser Fluorescence Microscopy, high intense emissions were shown at shorter SiO2 lengths, while lower emissions were found towards longer ones. These characteristics related to MEF were evaluated by in-flow cytometry with dual laser excitation and fluorescence detection, and by an IFC set-up. By In-flow cytometry, different scattered-light distributions were shown, depending on the nanoparticle concentrations in the colloidal dispersion and size of the Au@SiO2-RhB. Moreover, varied fluorescent event detections and counting were recorded according to the SiO2 lengths applied. A ratio of fluorescent event detection counting of core–shell/core-less of 40–42 was established for optimal MEF Enhancement Factors (MEFEF) of 41–43 determined by Laser Fluorescence Microscopy. Core-less nanoparticles showed a marked decrease of fluorescent event detection counting caused by higher photobleaching and absence of the MEF effect. Hence, an improved detection effect was shown within in-flow based on MEF from single nanoplatforms. Therefore, the Ultraluminescence emission of core–shell nanoarchitectures within in-flow techniques was shown and discussed. A non-classical light in real time within colloidal gold core–shell nanoparticles was generated by accurate control of their architectures.