Abstract

A Rapid and Mobile Fiber Optic Nanoplasmonic Biosensor

Lai-Kwan Chau, Professor, National Chung Cheng University

Rapid on-site diagnostics make crucial difference by saving time, money, scarce resources, and lives. Our rapid and mobile nano-biosensing platform, based on the fiber optic particle plasmon resonance (FOPPR), is a low-cost detection system integrating gold nanoparticles with fiber optic sensing technology. The sensing concept depends on the evanescent wave via the multiple total internal reflections scheme in an optical fiber to significantly enhance the sensing signal in order to achieve the sensitivity at the pg/mL level. Further integration of the sensor element with microfluidics, an one-button start fluidic-electrical system, and bluetooth technology, the device is suitable for real-time detection of biomolecular interactions and provides an opportunity to fulfill the need of a rapid, mobile, high sensitivity, low-cost, and simple-to-use biosensor. Its applications to a variety of biological samples, including antinuclear antibodies in sera, cytokines and matrix metalloproteinases in synovial fluids, and orchid viruses in leaf saps, have been successfully demonstrated and validated with the well-accepted enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. A palm-sized prototype is being constructed and hence this biosensor has a high potential to be implemented at the point-of-care (POC).