title: Protease detection using a porous silicon based Bloch surface wave optical biosensor.
abstract: In this article we present an optical biosensor for label-free detection of trace levels of protease activity. The scheme is based on surface functionalized porous silicon optical structures which supports optical Bloch surface modes. The optical structure provides a resonant optical mode for high sensitivity detection and open access of the sensing layer to the target enzyme. Protease detection is based on the digestion of gelatin, covalently attached inside the pore space, resulting in a spectral blue-shift of the optical mode. Monitoring of spatially separated resonant optical modes is used to eliminate optical response from nonspecific adsorption.
authors.affiliation: School of Physics, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia.
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Qiao
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Guan
authors.forename: J Justin
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Gooding
authors.forename: Peter J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Reece
mesh_terms: D015374:Biosensing Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D055620:Optical Phenomena; D016062:Porosity; D012825:Silicon / Q000737:chemistry*; D020860:Subtilisin / Q000032:analysis*; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D020860:Subtilisin; D012825:Silicon