HYDROPHILIC COATINGS OF PLASMONIC METALS TO ENABLE LOW VOLUME METAL-ENHANCED FLUORESCENCE

摘要

The present invention provides for metallic structures comprising a sulfhydryl or amino- terminated hydrophilic coating to provide a layer of hydrophilic character on the surface of the metallic structures thereby allowing the use of low volumes of aqueous solvents of fluorophores that have the ability to "spread out" across the surfaces of the metallic structures and to provide for a more uniform surface coating of fluorophores attached to or near the metallic structures.