关键词: 零模波导, 单分子, 纳米微结构器件

Abstract: Techniques for single fluorescent molecules detection have garnered a great amount of interests from science community in recent years largely due to their ability to reveal the individual molecular properties and behaviors which were often obscured by techniques based on ensemble  average. In order to overcome diffraction-limit of optical observation, fluorescent molecules must be diluted to a very low concentration-way below normal physiological concentration. However, this may adversely impact the kinetics for the chemical or biochemical reaction under study. Zero-mode waveguides（ZMWs）, as a new kind of single fluorescent molecule detection device, effectively reduce the observation volume to the level of zeptoliter (10-21L), which is much lower than optical diffraction-limited volume, by utilizing of a nanoaperture structure. The zeptoliter-observation volume provides an environment where a single fluorescent molecule can be observed at normal physiological concentration. The ZMWs have been extensively used in the field of single fluorescent molecule detection due to its outstanding performance than diffraction-limited optics.Therefore we provided an overview of ZMWs, including discussions on its principle, fabrication techniques, and applications in DNA sequencing, biomembrane structure elucidation,  biomacromolecule interaction studies and kinetics study of single-molecule reaction.

Key words: zero-mode waveguides, single molecule, nano microstructure devices