The development and wide application of fluorescence-based technology to the detection and monitoring of biomolecule interactions is limited by the signal produced by the probe, the size of the biomolecules, and the detection technology. Highly desired real-time detection, without washing steps, is currently limited to the methods of fluorescence polarization and surface plasmon resonance. There is need for detection techniques that have general application and provide high sensitivity without limitations to the size of the interacting biomolecules. This project will determine feasibility of combining Metal Enhanced Fluorescence (MEF) technology, spatially localized biomolecule interactions, and a PM (phase-modulation) technique in a substantially improved detection system. Phase I will fabricate micro-nanostructures and perform comparative studies (using standard fluorescent probes, a model protein system, and phase-modulation techniques) to prove that the new detection system is superior to the existing fluorescence polarization method for the detection of interacting biological molecules. Phase II will develop a reagent protocol and a prototype detection device. The new system will be complimentary to the well-established fluorescence polarization method.
Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee: A system for the identification and detection of biomolecule interactions should have application to drug discovery, genomics, proteomics, and clinical diagnostics. The system should be substantially more general than fluorescence polarization (FP) and surface plasmon resonance (SPR) detection systems, which already are widely accepted and used in drug discovery research and in immunochemistry
