Semiconductor Quantum Dots for Analytical and Bioanalytical Applications

Semiconductor Quantum Dots for Analytical and Bioanalytical Applications 

Ronit Freeman, Jian-Ping Xu, and Itamar Willner 

The FRET process between donor and acceptor luminescent probes is a versatile spectroscopic tool to follow the intimate contact between molecular components. Hence, it also serves as a useful method to follow sensing events between recognition elements and their analytes [53-55]. 

The FRET process involves dipole-dipole interactions between a donor and acceptor pair, where the FRET probability decreases with distance by the sixth power. This causes the FRET efficiency, E, to be very sensitive to the distance, r, separating the donor-acceptor couple, (where Ro is the Forster radius)  

Typical Forster distances separate the donor and acceptor range between 2 and 8 nm. FRET signals are detectable up to about twice the Forster distance separating the donor-acceptor pair. If, however, the acceptor unit is tethered to n donor sites, the FRET efficiency increases and is given by Eq. (6.4)  

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SS 6 Semiconductor Quantum Dots for Analytical and Bioanalytical Applications... 

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