Angular-dependent metal-enhanced fluorescence

1. A method for detecting emissions from fluorescent molecules positioned near metallic structures, the method comprising:

(a) positioning the fluorescent molecules near the metallic structures immobilized on a surface, wherein the surface comprises a multiplicity of metallic structures and wherein the fluorescent molecules are positioned from about 5 nm to about 30 nm from the metallic structures;

(b) irradiating the fluorescent molecules with polarized radiation and at an excitation incidence angle in an amount sufficient to cause non-radiative transfer of energy from the fluorescent molecules to plasmons on the metallic structures; and

(c) detecting angular plasmonic emissions from the metallic structures in combination with scattered emissions from the fluorescent molecules, at a detection angle different from that of the excitation incidence angle and wherein the detection angle is about 180 degrees relative to the angle of incidence.

2. A method for detecting emissions from fluorescent molecules positioned near metallic structures the method comprising:

(i) positioning the fluorescent molecules near the metallic structures immobilized on a surface, wherein the surface comprises a multiplicity of metallic structures wherein the fluorescent molecules are positioned from about 5 nm to about 30 nm from the metallic structures;

(ii) irradiating the fluorescent molecules with polarized radiation and at an excitation incidence angle in an amount sufficient to cause non-radiative transfer of energy from the fluorescent molecules to plasmons on the metallic structures; and

(iii) detecting angular plasmonic emissions from the metallic structures in combination with scattered emissions from the fluorescent molecules, at a detection angle different from that of the excitation incidence angle, wherein the method for detecting emissions measures the concentration of an analyte, the method comprising:

(a) preparing metallic structures positioned on the surface, wherein the metallic structures comprise a noble metal and at least partially coated with a binding component having an affinity for the analyte;

(b) contacting the binding components with the analyte that has an affinity for the binding component;

(c) contacting any bound analyte with the fluorescence molecules;

(d) exposing the system comprising the metallic structures and fluorescence molecules with excitation electromagnetic energy in an amount sufficient to excite the fluorescence molecules and surface plasmons, wherein the electromagnetic energy is delivered at an incident angle and at a frequency matching plasmon absorption maxima of the metallic structures; and

(e) detecting the emission from surface plasmons and fluorescence molecules at a detection angle different from the incident angle, wherein the detection angle has been predetermined for the metallic structures and in a range from about 135 degrees to about 225 degrees relative to the angle of incidence.

3. A system of detecting angular-dependent metal enhanced fluorescence, the system comprising:

metallic colloids positioned on a surface or in solution, wherein the metallic colloids are communicatively connected to a fluorophore tag, and wherein the fluorescent tag is positioned from about 5 nm to about 30 nm from the metallic colloids, wherein the metallic colloids are in an amount to provide an optical density from about 0.075 to 0.425 at a given wavelength thereby increasing emissions from the fluorescent tag and plasmonic emissions from the metallic colloids;

a source of electromagnetic energy positioned to radiate at least the fluorophore tag at an excitation angle; and

a detector positioned at a detection angle for measuring the radiation emissions from the metallic colloids coupled with emission from the fluorophore tag.

4. The system according to claim 3 , wherein the metallic colloid is silver or gold.

5. The system according to claim 3 , wherein the surface is a glass or plastic substrate.

6. The system according to claim 3 , wherein the excitation angle is perpendicular to the detection angle.

7. The system according to claim 3 , wherein the emissions increase as the size of the colloid increases.

8. The system according to claim 3 , wherein the colloid is from about 40 nm to 200 nm diameter.

9. The system according to claim 3 , wherein a multiplicity of colloids are homogeneously positioned on the surface.