ABSTRACT
This chapter considers fluorescence emission enhanced with resonant nanostructures. It introduces the basic concept of fluorescence emission and discusses the mechanisms of fluorescence emission including both linear and nonlinear types. The chapter then reviews the state-of-the-art technologies based on plasmonic and photonics materials to enhance fluorescence emission. Fluorescence labels are powerful and inexpensive techniques for detection and imaging of biomolecules including proteins, DNA, RNA, and even viruses that offers the visual representation, characterization, and quantification of biological processes at both cellular and sub-cellular levels. Various techniques have been developed to improve the applicability, quality, and sensitivity of fluorescence imaging. For instance, fusion of green fluorescent protein (GFP) with other proteins can monitor specific cell compartments and dynamic processes. To obtain high-quality imaging or high-accuracy detection, it is important to choose a proper fluorophore label for a particular target or event.
