简介

1. Bio-nano-photonics. We interested in developing new experimental methodology to characterize mechanisms and dynamics of intra- and intermolecular binding that involves biomolecules. In particular, force spectroscopy can manipulate single molecules and perform mechanical experiments with single macromolecules, thus, one can move beyond ensemble averages to resolve and analyze transient subpopulations, study details of energy landscapes, and observe mechanics of molecular machinery of cells. To gain independent evaluation of geometrical, structural and molecular transformations within the probe-substrate junction, we combine force spectroscopy with optical near field techniques to achieve simultaneous spectroscopic characterization of binding and folding events. Nanostructured substrates (sub-wavelength apertures, lenses or waveguides) will act as field concentrators to achieve light confinement to the nanometer-sized region of interest.