Abstract
In this short paper, we describe a novel approach to both significantly accelerate and optically amplify fluorescence-based immunoassays. Our approach utilizes metal-enhanced fluorescence (MEF) to intrinsically optically amplify fluorescence signatures, which, when combined with the use of low-power microwaves to kinetically accelerate assays, provides for both ultrafast and ultrabright immunoassays. Surprisingly, the use of low-power microwaves and silver nanostructures provides for localized heating, concentrating the effect to the particles themselves as compared to the generic heating of the high dielectric assay fluid. We have subsequently applied our microwave-accelerated MEF approach to the detection of myoglobin, where its rapid quantification is paramount for the clinical assessment of an acute myocardial infarction.