| abstract |
A structured substrate (100) includes a substrate body (102) having an active side (104). The substrate body (102) includes a reaction chamber or site (106) open along the active side (104), and a gap region (118) separating the reaction chamber (106). The structured substrate (100) includes integrated amplifiers (120) positioned within each reaction chamber (106). The integrated amplifier (120) includes a plurality of nanostructures (116), such as dimers, trimers, butterfly nanoantennas, nanorods, nanorings, nanoplugs, which are configured for amplifying propagation to corresponding reaction chambers ( 106) or amplify at least one of electromagnetic energy (110) generated within the corresponding reaction chamber (106), such as emitted fluorescence. Preferably, the nanostructures (116) within the chamber (106) are covered with an organic material such as a gel (122). Preferably, nanoimprint lithography (NIL) is used to fabricate the structured substrate (100). |