Experimental proof of concept of nanoparticle-assisted STED

Nano Lett. 2014 Aug 13;14(8):4449-53. doi: 10.1021/nl5014103. Epub 2014 Jul 28.

Abstract

We imaged core-shell nanoparticles, consisting of a dye-doped silica core covered with a layer of gold, with a stimulated emission depletion, fluorescence lifetime imaging (STED-FLIM) microscope. Because of the field enhancement provided by the localized surface plasmon resonance of the gold shell, we demonstrate a reduction of the STED depletion power required to obtain resolution improvement by a factor of 4. This validates the concept of nanoparticle-assisted STED (NP-STED), where hybrid dye-plasmonic nanoparticles are used as labels for STED in order to decrease the depletion powers required for subwavelength imaging.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Fluorescent Dyes / chemistry*
  • Gold / chemistry*
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence
  • Nanoshells / chemistry*

Substances

  • Fluorescent Dyes
  • Gold