ZnO micron rods as single dielectric resonator for optical sensing.

Light scattering properties of dielectric nanostructures (DNSs) have been recently applied for biosensing. It is worth noting that, however, the application of dielectric materials as light scattering probes in the field of analysis and detection has rarely been reported, especially at the single particle level. Herein, for the first time, we use ZnO micron rods (ZnOMRs) as dark field microscope (DFM) imaging probes for single particle level optical sensing.

Highly sensitive detection of hepatitis C virus DNA by using a one-donor-four-acceptors FRET probe.

Sensitive detection of Hepatitis C virus (HCV) DNA is critical to treat and prevent the propagation of hepatitis C diseases. Herein a FRET probe of One-Donor-Multi-Acceptors (D-mA) assembly is designed through the formation of triple-helix DNA structure, which can greatly reduce the background of FRET system so as to greatly increase the detection sensitivity of hepatitis C virus DNA with the limit of detection (3σ) being 24.57 nmol/L, making the detection of clinic samples successful and showing that the newly developed FRET probe of D-mA assembly could be applied for the early diagnosis and treatment of hepatitis C disease.