Pushing the limits of label-free single-molecule characterization by nanofluidic scattering microscopy

Nanofluidic Scattering Microscopy (NSM) is a label-free characterization method that leverages the interference of light scattered by nanochannels and single molecules within them. This technique enables accurate determination of molecular weight and hydrodynamic radius based solely on scattering, without requiring prior molecular knowledge. However, standard analysis methods limit NSM's sensitivity to 66 kDa for proteins. In this presentation, I will demonstrate how we push this detection limit an order of magnitude further by integrating ultrasmall geometry with an advanced machine learning analysis approach, all while maintaining the same input laser power intensity.