Single-molecule photoreaction quantitation through intraparticle-surface energy transfer (i-SET) spectroscopy

Quantification of nanoparticle-molecule interaction at a single-molecule level remains a daunting challenge, mainly due to ultra-weak emission from single molecules and the perturbation of the local environment. Here we report the rational design of an intraparticle-surface energy transfer (i-SET) process, analogous to high doping concentration-induced surface quenching effects, to realize single-molecule sensing by nanoparticle probes. This design, based on a Tb3+-activator-rich core-shell upconversion nanoparticle, enables a much-improved spectral response to fluorescent molecules at single-molecule levels through enhanced non-radiative energy transfer with a rate over an order of magnitude faster than conventional counterparts. We demonstrate a quantitative analysis of spectral changes of one to four fluorophores tethered on a single nanoparticle through i-SET spectroscopy. Our results provide opportunities to identify photoreaction kinetics at single-molecule levels and provide direct information for understanding behaviors of individual molecules with unprecedented sensitivity. Single-molecule sensing is very challenging due to weak emitted signals and environmental interference. Here the authors design a method (i-SET) for single molecule sensing with core-shell upconverting nanoparticles, which relies on signal enhancement by the activator-rich probes to quantify fluorophores attached to a single nanoparticle.