title: A fiber-tip label-free biological sensing platform: a practical approach toward in-vivo sensing.
abstract: The platform presented here was devised to address the unmet need for real time label-free in vivo sensing by bringing together a refractive index transduction mechanism based on Whispering Gallery Modes (WGM) in dye doped microspheres and Microstructured Optical Fibers. In addition to providing remote excitation and collection of the WGM signal, the fiber provides significant practical advantages such as an easy manipulation of the microresonator and the use of this sensor in a dip sensing architecture, alleviating the need for a complex microfluidic interface. Here, we present the first demonstration of the use of this approach for biological sensing and evaluate its limitation in a sensing configuration deprived of liquid flow which is most likely to occur in an in vivo setting. We also demonstrate the ability of this sensing platform to be operated above its lasing threshold, enabling enhanced device performance.
authors.affiliation: The Institute for Photonics and Advanced Sensing (IPAS) and ARC Centre of Excellence for Nanoscale Biophotonics (CNBP), the University of Adelaide, Adelaide SA 5005, Australia. alexandre.francois@adelaide.edu.au.
authors.forename: Alexandre
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: François
authors.affiliation: The Institute for Photonics and Advanced Sensing (IPAS) and ARC Centre of Excellence for Nanoscale Biophotonics (CNBP), the University of Adelaide, Adelaide SA 5005, Australia. tess.reynolds@adelaide.edu.au.
authors.forename: Tess
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Reynolds
authors.affiliation: The Institute for Photonics and Advanced Sensing (IPAS) and ARC Centre of Excellence for Nanoscale Biophotonics (CNBP), the University of Adelaide, Adelaide SA 5005, Australia. tanya.monro@adelaide.edu.au.
authors.forename: Tanya M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Monro
mesh_terms: D001360:Avidin / Q000378:metabolism; D015374:Biosensing Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D004396:Coloring Agents / Q000737:chemistry; D007700:Kinetics; D055100:Optical Fibers; D055620:Optical Phenomena; D011073:Polyamines / Q000737:chemistry; D011485:Protein Binding; D013194:Staining and Labeling
chemical_list: D004396:Coloring Agents; D011073:Polyamines; C093483:neutravidin; D001360:Avidin; C063994:polyallylamine