Robust fluorescent response of micropatterned multilayered films

We demonstrate that photobleaching can be significantly suppressed in fluorescent-labeled polyelectrolyte layer-by-layer (LbL) films by efficient spatial isolation of the dye molecules using multilayered architecture. The films exhibited excellent temporal stability under high excitation power where the bulk films suffered a significant photobleaching. Quenching of the fluorescence caused by the resonant energy transfer between the dye molecules and gold nanoparticles exhibited a weak distance dependence with significant quenching extending beyond 20nm distance. The robust, freely suspended, fluorescent LbL films exhibited stable fluorescence response under deformation which can make them attractive for sensitive fluoroimmunoassays.