Peak analysis program for single molecule spectroscopy

Abstract

The highly sensitive method of detecting single molecules in nano-litre droplets is a valuable technique in the field of biosensing. Applications of this technology range far and wide. Modified target molecules are passed through a laser detection volume and the data is fed to a computer to be recorded continuously. The fluorescent intensity peaks in the resulting data allow these target molecules to be distinguished from other molecules and noise. A program to properly analyse this data is the focus of this project. The required final product is a simple and intuitive user interface that can be utilised by anyone to process data and derive useful conclusions about the identification of the molecules. With the help of this program, the user can reduce the time needed to conduct an initial analysis of the experimental data without any knowledge of programming. In the case where the program code needs to be maintained or revised for a new purpose, it is practical to do so as the code is organised in a logical and modular fashion. It is written in the Python language so that it can read, understood, and altered with relative ease. This report expounds the background, design, and development of such a program.