Compact and low-cost biosensor based on novel approach to spectroscopy of surface plasmons

A high-performance surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensor based on a novel approach to spectroscopy of surface plasmons is reported. This approach employs a special diffraction grating structure (referred to as surface plasmon resonance coupler and disperser, SPRCD) which simultaneously couples light into a surface plasmon and disperses the diffracted light for spectral readout of SPR signal. The developed SPRCD sensor consists of a miniature cartridge integrating the diffraction grating and microfluidics and a compact optical system which simultaneously acquires data from four independent sensing channels in the cartridge. It is demonstrated that the SPRCD sensor is able to measure bulk refractive index changes as small as 3 × 10⁻⁷ RIU (refractive index units) and to detect short oligonucleotides in concentrations down to 200 pM.     

SPR Label-Free Biosensor with Oxide-Metal-Oxide-Coated D-Typed Optical Fiber: a Theoretical Study

In this article, a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) biosensor based on D-typed optical fiber coated by Al₂O₃/Ag/Al₂O₃ film is investigated numerically. Resonance in near infrared with an optimized architecture is achieved. Refractive index sensitivity of 6558 nm/RIU (refractive index unit) and detection limit of 1.5 × 10⁻⁶ RIU, corresponding to 0.4357 nm/μM and detection limit of 23 nM in BSA (bovine serum albumin) concentration sensing, are obtained. The analysis of the performance of the sensor in gaseous sensing indicates that this proposed SPR sensor is much suitable for label-free biosensing in aqueous media.

     

Label-free monitoring of apoptosis by surface plasmon resonance detection of morphological changes

Apoptosis can be routinely characterized using biomolecular markers such as in the TUNEL and the annexin V assays or by using fluorescent caspase substrates. Apoptosis can also be semi-quantitatively characterized using microscopy, which targets morphological features such as cell rounding, nuclear condensation and fragmentation as well as cell membrane blebbing. This label-free approach provides a limited resolution for the evolution of these events in time and relies heavily on subjective identification of the morphological features. Here we propose a label-free assay based on surface plasmon resonance (SPR) detection of minute morphology changes occurring as a result of apoptosis induction in an endothelial cell model (EA.hy926). At first, annexin V assays confirmed that our cellular model was responsive to TRAIL over a 12-hour period. Then, we show that SPR allows accurate monitoring of apoptosis by measuring (1) the duration of the latency period during which the apoptotic signal is integrated by the initiator caspases and transmitted to the executioner caspases, (2) the rate of the execution phase in which death substrates are cleaved and morphological changes occur, and (3) the total extent of apoptosis. Using these parameters, we characterized the responses obtained with TRAIL (EA.hy926, HeLa, AD-293) and the anti-Fas antibody (HeLa) for the extrinsic pathways and UV exposure (HeLa) for the intrinsic pathways. By comparing the SPR time-course of apoptosis with phase contrast micrographs, we demonstrate that the cell morphological hallmarks of apoptosis are the major contributors to the SPR signal. Altogether, our results validate the use of SPR as an accurate label-free assay for the real-time monitoring of apoptosis-triggered cell morphological changes.     

Chemical Deposition of Silver for the Fabrication of Surface Plasmon Microstructured Optical Fibre Sensors

We compare the Tollens reaction, a simple chemical coating method, with the more commonly used RF sputtering technique for use in creating surfaces suitable for sensing applications based on surface plasmon resonance. Experiments show that by optimising the chemical process, these two approaches can produce surfaces that exhibit similar surface plasmon resonance (SPR) performance. Thus, the Tollens method is a viable one for coating the interior surfaces of a microstructured optical fibre. As a demonstration, this technique was applied to a microstructured optical fibre, and a 60-nm silver layer is produced along the entire length of a 1-m-long fibre. This is the first step towards the realisation of a SPR sensing device based on microstructured optical fibres.     

A new surface plasmon resonance sensor for high-throughput screening applications

We report a new high-throughput surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensor based on combination of SPR imaging with polarization contrast and a spatially patterned multilayer SPR structure. We demonstrate that this approach offers numerous advantageous features including high-contrast SPR images suitable for automated computer analysis, minimum crosstalk between neighboring sensing channels and inherent compensation for light level fluctuations. Applications of a laboratory prototype of the high-throughput SPR sensor with 108 sensing channels for refractometry and biosensing are described. In refractometric experiments, the noise-limited refractive index resolution of the system has been established to be 3 x 10(-6) refractive index unit (RIU). Experimental data on detection of human choriogonadotropin (hCG) suggest that in conjunction with monoclonal antibodies against hCG, the reported SPR imaging sensor is capable of detecting hCG at concentrations lower than 500 ng/ml.     

Multimode Optical Fiber Surface Plasmon Resonance Signal Processing Based on the Fourier Series Fitting

Multimode optical fiber is widely used because of its large core size, strong light-gathering ability, and remote on-line sensing ability in various environments. Due to the mode coupling and polarization loss, the signal curve obtained has wide full width at half-maximum (FWHM) and small peak value. Therefore, efficient methods to calculate the resonant wavelength are required. This paper presents a method to process the surface plasmon resonance curve (SPR) based on the Fourier series fitting. The calculated resonant wavelength is obtained with one-dimensional extremum-search method. Experiment results show the proposed method can accurately calculate the resonant wavelength of high concentration solution. Additionally, the method has higher sensitivity and is unaffected by the light source fluctuation. This method has potential value in processing the SPR signal of the multimode optical fiber.     

Real-Time Monitoring of Transferrin-Induced Endocytic Vesicle Formation by Mid-Infrared Surface Plasmon Resonance

We report on the application of surface plasmon resonance (SPR), based on Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy in the mid-infrared wavelength range, for real-time and label-free sensing of transferrin-induced endocytic processes in human melanoma cells. The evanescent field of the mid-infrared surface plasmon penetrates deep into the cell, allowing highly sensitive SPR measurements of dynamic processes occurring at significant cellular depths. We monitored in real-time, infrared reflectivity spectra in the SPR regime from living cells exposed to human transferrin (Tfn). We show that although fluorescence microscopy measures primarily Tfn accumulation in recycling endosomes located deep in the cell's cytoplasm, the SPR technique measures mainly Tfn-mediated formation of early endocytic organelles located in close proximity to the plasma membrane. Our SPR and fluorescence data are very well described by a kinetic model of Tfn endocytosis, suggested previously in similar cell systems. Hence, our SPR data provide further support to the rather controversial ability of Tfn to stimulate its own endocytosis. Our analysis also yields what we believe is novel information on the role of membrane cholesterol in modulating the kinetics of endocytic vesicle biogenesis and consumption.     

Long period grating based biosensor for the detection of Escherichia coli bacteria

In this paper we report a stable, label-free, bacteriophage-based detection of Escherichia coli (E. coli) using ultra sensitive long-period fiber gratings (LPFGs). Bacteriophage T4 was covalently immobilized on optical fiber surface and the E. coli binding was investigated using the highly accurate spectral interrogation mechanism. In contrast to the widely used surface plasmon resonance (SPR) based sensors, no moving part or metal deposition is required in our sensor, making the present sensor extremely accurate, very compact and cost effective. We demonstrated that our detection mechanism is capable of reliable detection of E. coli concentrations as low as 10(3)cfu/ml with an experimental accuracy greater than 99%.     

Long Range Surface Plasmons for Observation of Biomolecular Binding Events at Metallic Surfaces

A long range surface plasmon (LRSP) is an electromagnetic wave propagating along a thin metal film with an order of magnitude lower damping than conventional surface plasmon (SP) waves. Thus, the excitation of LRSP is associated with a narrower resonance and it provides larger enhancement of intensity of the electromagnetic field. In surface plasmon resonance (SPR) biosensors, these features allow a more precise observation of the binding of biomolecules in the proximity to the metal surface by using the (label-free) measurement of refractive index (RI) variations and by SP-enhanced fluorescence spectroscopy. In this contribution, we investigate LRSPs excited on a layer structure consisting of a fluoropolymer buffer layer, a thin gold film, and an aqueous sample. By implementing such structure in an SPR sensor, we achieved a 2.4- and 4.4-fold improvement of the resolution in the label-free and fluorescence-based detection, respectively, of the binding of biomolecules in the close proximity to the surface. Moreover, we demonstrate that the sensor resolution can be improved by a factor of 14 and 12 for the label-free and fluorescence-based detection, respectively, if the biomolecular binding events occur within the whole evanescent field of LRSP.     

New trends in instrumental design for surface plasmon resonance-based biosensors

Surface plasmon resonance (SPR)-based biosensing is one of the most advanced label free, real time detection technologies. Numerous research groups with divergent scientific backgrounds have investigated the application of SPR biosensors and studied the fundamental aspects of surface plasmon polaritons that led to new, related instrumentation. As a result, this field continues to be at the forefront of evolving sensing technology. This review emphasizes the new developments in the field of SPR-related instrumentation including optical platforms, chips design, nanoscale approach and new materials. The current tendencies in SPR-based biosensing are identified and the future direction of SPR biosensor technology is broadly discussed.     

Multi-analyte surface plasmon resonance biosensing

Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) biosensors are affinity sensing devices exploiting a special mode of electromagnetic field-surface plasmon-polariton-to detect the binding of analyte molecules from a liquid sample to biomolecular recognition elements immobilized on the surface of the sensor. In this paper, we review advances of SPR biosensor technology towards detection systems for the simultaneous detection of multiple analytes (multi-analyte detection). In addition, we report application of a recently developed multichannel SPR sensor based on spectroscopy of surface plasmons and wavelength division multiplexing of sensing channels to multi-analyte detection.     

A miniature fiber optic surface plasmon resonance sensor for fast detection of Staphylococcal enterotoxin B

A fiber optic surface plasmon resonance (SPR) biosensor for detection of Staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) is reported. The sensor is based on spectral interrogation of surface plasmons in a miniature sensing element based on a side-polished single-mode optical fiber with a thin metal overlayer. For specific detection of SEB, the SPR sensor is functionalized with a covalently crosslinked double-layer of antibodies against SEB. The SPR biosensor is demonstrated to be able to detect ng/ml concentrations of SEB in less than 10 min.     

Infrared surface plasmon resonance: a novel tool for real time sensing of variations in living cells

We developed a novel surface plasmon resonance (SPR) method, based on Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, as a label-free technique for studying dynamic processes occurring within living cells in real time. With this method, the long (micrometer) infrared wavelength produced by the FTIR generates an evanescent wave that penetrates deep into the sample. In this way, it enables increased depth of sensing changes, covering significant portions of the cell-height volumes. HeLa cells cultivated on a gold-coated prism were subjected to acute cholesterol enrichment or depletion using cyclodextrins. Cholesterol insertion into the cell plasma membrane resulted in an exponential shift of the SPR signal toward longer wavelengths over time, whereas cholesterol depletion caused a shift in the opposite direction. Upon application of the inactive analog alpha-cyclodextrin (alpha-CD), the effects were minimal. A similar trend in the SPR signal shifts was observed on a model membrane system. Our data suggest that FTIR-SPR can be implemented as a sensitive technique for monitoring in real time dynamic changes taking place in living cells.     

Detection of receptor-ligand interactions using surface plasmon resonance: model studies employing the HIV-1 gp120/CD4 interaction.

Surface plasmon resonance (SPR), a label-free, real time optical detection principle, has been investigated for its potential to detect and quantitate macromolecular ligand-ligate interactions. As model systems, the interactions of the HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein, gp120, and the monoclonal antibody L-71, with a soluble form of the T-cell receptor CD4 (sCD4), were investigated. In an effort to demonstrate potential analytical applications of this technology, operational characteristics of the SPR instrumentation (BIAcore, Pharmacia) including stability of the sensing surface and reproducibility in the measurement of such macromolecular interactions were investigated. In addition, the ability to detect and quantitate sCD4 directly from unfractionated cell culture supernatants, such as Streptomyces lividans, was investigated. The results demonstrate that SPR has potential in quantitating macromolecular interactions in both purified and crude samples and that the reproducibility in, and sensitivity of, such determinations is comparable to other techniques.     

Development of a label-free and innovative approach based on surface plasmon resonance biosensor for on-site detection of infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV)

An innovative, specific and label-free detection approach based on optical surface plasmon resonance (SPR) was developed and employed in the development of a rapid and quantitative bioanalyzer for detecting infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) in the field. A unique bioanalyzer based on this approach was established which consists of a micro-flow cell, a temperature regulator, an integrated biosensor, an optical platform, an electronic control unit incorporated into a photoelectric conversion device, and a universal serial bus (USB) interface circuit board. The procedure for detecting IBDV was systematically described, and experimentally validated. The self-assembly technology was used to make the IBDmAb adhere to the surface of the sensor chip by a bifunctional cross-linker. By this approach there exhibited a linear relationship between the IBDV concentrations and the corresponding responses in the range of dilution factors from 100 to 1600 with R(2) 0.97982. We were able to detect 400-fold diluted IBDV using this biochip repeatedly with a calculated relative standard deviation (RSD) of 3.6%. We also showed that the detection limit of the SPR biosensor biochip was around 1/18 of the detection limit of the IBDV diagnostic strip. Satisfactory recoveries were obtained from the recovery test. The approach presented here was shown to have great potential to be used in the IBDV epidemic regions and hence help to promote the effective implementation of sound control strategies against IBDV.     

Metallic Nanowire Array–Polymer Hybrid Film for Surface Plasmon Resonance Sensitivity Enhancement and Spectral Range Enlargement

In this paper, the coupling interaction is investigated between a metallic nanowire array and a metal film under the Kretschmann condition. The plasmonic multilayer is composed of a metallic nanowire array embedded in a polymer layer positioned above a metal film, exploiting the classical surface plasmon resonance (SPR) configuration. We analyze the influence of various structural parameters of the metallic nanowire array on the SPR spectrum of thin metal film. The results show that the coupling interactions of nanowires with the metal film can greatly affect SPR resonance wavelength and increase SPR sensitivity. The coupling strength of metallic nanowire array and metal film also impacts resonance wavelength, which can be used to adjust SPR range but have little effect on its sensitivity. The results are confirmed using a dipole coupling resonance model of metallic nanowire. We demonstrated that this nanostructured hybrid structure can be used for high sensitivity SPR monitoring in a large spectral range, which is important for advanced SPR measurement including fiber-optic SPR sensing technology.     

A surface plasmon resonance approach to monitor toxin interactions with an isolated voltage-gated sodium channel paddle motif

Animal toxins that inhibit voltage-gated sodium (Na_v) channel fast inactivation can do so through an interaction with the S3b–S4 helix-turn-helix region, or paddle motif, located in the domain IV voltage sensor. Here, we used surface plasmon resonance (SPR), an optical approach that uses polarized light to measure the refractive index near a sensor surface to which a molecule of interest is attached, to analyze interactions between the isolated domain IV paddle and Na_v channel–selective α-scorpion toxins. Our SPR analyses showed that the domain IV paddle can be removed from the Na_v channel and immobilized on sensor chips, and suggest that the isolated motif remains susceptible to animal toxins that target the domain IV voltage sensor. As such, our results uncover the inherent pharmacological sensitivities of the isolated domain IV paddle motif, which may be exploited to develop a label-free SPR approach for discovering ligands that target this region.     

Review of Some Interesting Surface Plasmon Resonance-enhanced Properties of Noble Metal Nanoparticles and Their Applications to Biosystems

Noble metal, especially gold (Au) and silver (Ag) nanoparticles exhibit unique and tunable optical properties on account of their surface plasmon resonance (SPR). In this review, we discuss the SPR-enhanced optical properties of noble metal nanoparticles, with an emphasis on the recent advances in the utility of these plasmonic properties in molecular-specific imaging and sensing, photo-diagnostics, and selective photothermal therapy. The strongly enhanced SPR scattering from Au nanoparticles makes them useful as bright optical tags for molecular-specific biological imaging and detection using simple dark-field optical microscopy. On the other hand, the SPR absorption of the nanoparticles has allowed their use in the selective laser photothermal therapy of cancer. We also discuss the sensitivity of the nanoparticle SPR frequency to the local medium dielectric constant, which has been successfully exploited for the optical sensing of chemical and biological analytes. Plasmon coupling between metal nanoparticle pairs is also discussed, which forms the basis for nanoparticle assembly-based biodiagnostics and the plasmon ruler for dynamic measurement of nanoscale distances in biological systems.     

Bragg-Scattered Surface Plasmon Microscopy: Theoretical Study

We present a new approach to surface plasmon microscopy with high refractive index sensitivity and spatial resolution that is not limited by the propagation length of surface plasmons. It is based on a nanostructured metallic sensor surface supporting Bragg-scattered surface plasmons. We show that these non-propagating surface plasmon modes are excellently suited for spatially resolved observations of refractive index variations on the sensor surface owing to their highly confined field profile perpendicular to as well as parallel to the metal interface. The presented theoretical study reveals that this approach enables reaching similar refractive index sensitivity as regular surface plasmon resonance (SPR) microscopy and offers the advantage of improved spatial resolution when observing dielectric features with lateral size <10???m for the wavelength around 800?nm and gold as the SPR-active metal. This paper demonstrates the potential of Bragg-scattered surface plasmon microscopy for high-throughput SPR biosensing with high-density microarrays.     

Detection of CD133-marked cancer stem cells by surface plasmon resonance: Its application in leukemia patients

Here, we reported the development of a label-free and real-time surface plasmon resonance (SPR) based biosensor for cancer stem cells (CSCs) detection using cell surface biomarker; CD133. The fabricated biosensor was used for detection of this marker in some acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients and the results were compared with those obtained from flow cytometry (FC) method. CD133 antibody was immobilized on the gold chip surface via EDC/NHS coupling method and binding of the candidate cells to the modified gold sensor surface was monitored after isolation of mononuclear cells from bone marrow of the patients. The method was validated in terms of various parameters such as CD133- antibody concentration and cell density. The CD133-marked cells were investigated in seven AML patients. All SPR results were compared with those obtained from FC method. A very good correlation (R² = 0.96) was obtained between SPR and FC responses related to CD133-marked cells densities. In conclusion, in this study, a label-free and real-time SPR cytometry method was developed to detect CD133 and it was successfully applied to follow this cancer stem cell biomarker in AML patients.