The aim of this project is to combine the photoluminescence properties of GNPs with a highly sensitive single-molecule optical technique, i.e. the fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS), in view of developing a label-free sensitive optical detection method based on GNPs-induced aggregation. We propose a one-step approach to detect antibody biomarkers that consists in monitoring the diffusion of the GNPs - oligomers induced by the interaction of antigen-conjugated GNPs with antibody molecules, in a limited confocal volume, by using FCS technique. 

    The main objectives that we want to fulfill throughout our project are: 

             (1) Synthesis of stable colloidal dispersions of GNPs with well-defined optical properties.

             (2) Demonstrate the feasibility of employing plasmon photoluminescence for screening the diffusion of GNPs through FCS.

             (3) Provide proof of concept for detection of relevant disease biomarkers through FCS – based detection platform.