OPTICAL-DETECTION OF SINGLE MOLECULES

Recent advances in ultrasensitive instrumentation have allowed for the detection, identification, and dynamic studies of single molecules in the condensed phase. This measurement capability provides a new set o f tools for scientists to address important current problems and to ex plore new frontiers in many scientific disciplines, such as chemistry, molecular biology, molecular medicine, and nanostructured materials. This review focuses on the methodologies and biological applications o f single-molecule detection based on laser-induced fluorescence.