Abstract:
"In the complex, heterogeneous environment of solution-phase biology and chemistry, understanding molecular dynamics and interactions at the single molecule level is crucial. We introduce a label-free single-molecule measurement technique utilising high-finesse fib-based Fabry-Pérot microcavities, enabling the detailed profiling of molecular diffusion and conformation without the need for surface attachment or molecular labelling.
I will describe how our approach leverages the light-matter interactions within optical micro-cavities to detect individual biomolecules as small as 1.2 kDa, equivalent to a ten-amino-acid peptide, with unparalleled signal-to-noise ratios greater than 100. By providing a way to resolve conformational differences as well as the sizes of single-molecules without the need for perturbative labels or surface confinement, our approach offers the potential to advance our understanding of molecular functions and interactions"