The single-molecule detection tech-nique plays a pivotal role in elucidat-ing the fundamental mechanisms of various scientific processes at the molecular level,and holds essential im-portance in multiple fields includ...The single-molecule detection tech-nique plays a pivotal role in elucidat-ing the fundamental mechanisms of various scientific processes at the molecular level,and holds essential im-portance in multiple fields including physics,biology,and chemistry.Re-cently,single-molecule detection has garnered increasing attention owing to its practical utility in medical diagno-sis,primarily due to its exceptional sensitivity and the minimal sample volume required for analysis.However,the conventional single-molecule technique,represented by total internal reflection microscopy,faces challenges such as sophisticated operation procedures and limited detection throughput,thereby impeding its broader application.To address these limitations,we have demonstrated single-molecule detection using an integrated silicon photonic chip,of-fering a cost-effective and user-friendly alternative.By employing basic optics,we efficiently introduce the excitation source for single-molecule fluorescence by harnessing the strong evanescent field of high refractive-index waveguides.Subsequently,fluorescence signals are collected using basic optics comprising a water-immersion objective,relay optics,and a digi-tal camera.Our results highlight a low-cost,high-throughput single-molecule technique achieved through the integrated silicon photonic chip.This innovative approach is promised to facilitate the widespread adoption of single-molecule fluorescence in medical diagnosis.展开更多
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program(No.2022YFE0107400)the internal research funding from Photonic View Technology Technology Co.,Ltd.the GuangCi Deep Mind Project of Ruijin Hospital Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine.
文摘The single-molecule detection tech-nique plays a pivotal role in elucidat-ing the fundamental mechanisms of various scientific processes at the molecular level,and holds essential im-portance in multiple fields including physics,biology,and chemistry.Re-cently,single-molecule detection has garnered increasing attention owing to its practical utility in medical diagno-sis,primarily due to its exceptional sensitivity and the minimal sample volume required for analysis.However,the conventional single-molecule technique,represented by total internal reflection microscopy,faces challenges such as sophisticated operation procedures and limited detection throughput,thereby impeding its broader application.To address these limitations,we have demonstrated single-molecule detection using an integrated silicon photonic chip,of-fering a cost-effective and user-friendly alternative.By employing basic optics,we efficiently introduce the excitation source for single-molecule fluorescence by harnessing the strong evanescent field of high refractive-index waveguides.Subsequently,fluorescence signals are collected using basic optics comprising a water-immersion objective,relay optics,and a digi-tal camera.Our results highlight a low-cost,high-throughput single-molecule technique achieved through the integrated silicon photonic chip.This innovative approach is promised to facilitate the widespread adoption of single-molecule fluorescence in medical diagnosis.