Beyond “turn-on” readout: from zero background to signal amplification by combination of magnetic separation and plasmon enhanced fluorescence

Abstract

By magnetic separation and subsequent plasmon enhanced fluorescence, an assay platform with a signal output from completely “zero” background to fluorescence amplification is achieved, using quantum dots as reporters. So, it well breaks through the conventional “turn-on” strategy in both lower and upper limits. The sensitivity for hyaluronidase sensing is enhanced 10⁴–10⁶ times as compared with previous fluorescence methods.