Molecular logic gates: Encoded Multichromophore Response for Simultaneous Label‐Free Detection Small 7/2010

The cover image depicts a DNA nanostructure on which collections of attached chromophores function as optical logic gates driving biomolecular sensors. In this process, molecular analytes disrupt the resonance energy transfer between chromophores and can thereby be uniquely identified by a binary combination of input wavelengths while observing a single output wavelength. This encoding technique scales the number of uniquely identifiable species beyond what simple wavelength division multiplexing can achieve, for example, with molecular beacons, given a fixed number of spectrally unique chromophores. Such nanostructures may enable the integration of more sophisticated computational devices based on resonance energy transfer logic for drug delivery, diagnostics, and biosensing. For more information, please read the Full Paper “Encoded Multichromophore Response for Simultaneous Label-Free Detection” by Chris Dwyer et al., beginning on page 843.