Correlation of micellar structures with surface-plasmon-coupled fluorescence in a strategy for fluorescence enhancement

The understanding of underlying phenomena of localized surface plasmon resonance of metal nanoparticles (NPs) enables the unique control on the intrinsic properties of fluorophores in the proximity of metal NPs. While other parameters have to be considered, the near-field interactions between metal NPs and fluorophores are strongly interconnected with their nanoscale organization. In this perspective, many researchers are struggling to find a better assembling method to engineer NP-fluorophore interactions and also to discover a new opportunity in many fields of science. In this study, we applied the self-segregating property of block copolymer micelles to organize the spatial location of fluorophores in the proximity of metal NPs. The strong correlation of micellar structures with surface-plasmon-coupled fluorescence has been discussed with an emphasis on the strategy for fluorescence enhancement.