We propose two-focus fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (2fFCS) on basis of plasmonic nanoantennas that provide distinct hot spots that are individually addressable through polarization, yet lie within a single diffraction limited microscope focus. The importance of two-focus FCS is that a calibrated distance between foci provides an intrinsic calibration to derive diffusion constants from measured correlation times. Through electromagnetic modelling we analyze a geometry of perpendicular nanorods, and their inverse, i.e., nanoslits. While we find that nanorods are not suited for nano-antenna enhanced 2fFCS due to substantial background signal, a nanoslit geometry is expected to provide a di tinct cross-correlation between orthogonally polarized detection channels. Furthermore, by utilizing a periodic array of nanoslits instead of a single pair, the amplitude of the cross-correlation can be enhanced. To demonstrate this technique, we present a proof of principle experiment on the basis of a periodic array of nanoslits, applied to lipid diffusion in a supported lipid bilayer.

European Research Council (ERC) , NWO
NPG
doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-06325-6
Sci. Rep.
NanoNextNL
Biological Soft Matter-Former Group

Langguth, L., Szuba, A., Mann, S., Garnett, E., Koenderink, G., & Koenderink, F. (2017). Nano-antenna enhanced two-focus fluorescence correlation spectroscopy. Sci. Rep., 7(Article number: 5985), 1–9. doi:10.1038/s41598-017-06325-6