Label-Free Biosensing with High Selectivity in Complex Media using Microtoroidal Optical Resonators.
Although label-free biosensors comprised of optical microcavities inherently possess the capability of resolving molecular interactions at individual level, this extreme sensitivity restricts their convenience for large scale applications by inducing vulnerability towards non-specific interactions that readily occur within complex media. Therefore, the use of optical microresonators for biosensing is mostly limited within strictly defined laboratory conditions, instead of field applications as early detection of cancer markers in blood, or identification of contamination in food. Here, we propose a novel surface modification strategy suitable for but not limited to optical microresonator based biosensors, enabling highly selective biosensing with considerable sensitivity as well. Using a robust, silane-based surface coating which is simultaneously protein resistant and bioconjugable, we demonstrate that it becomes possible to perform biosensing within complex media, without compromising the sensitivity or reliability of the measurement. Functionalized microtoroids are successfully shown to resist nonspecific interactions, while simultaneously being used as sensitive biological sensors. This strategy could pave the way for important applications in terms of extending the use of state-of-the-art biosensors for solving problems similar to the aforementioned.
UNAM-National Nanotechnology Research Center, Bilkent University, 06800 Ankara, Turkey.
Erol
E
Ozgur
1] UNAM-National Nanotechnology Research Center, Bilkent University, 06800 Ankara, Turkey [2] Institute of Materials Science and Nanotechnology, Bilkent University, 06800 Ankara, Turkey.
Pelin
P
Toren
UNAM-National Nanotechnology Research Center, Bilkent University, 06800 Ankara, Turkey.
Ozan
O
Aktas
1] UNAM-National Nanotechnology Research Center, Bilkent University, 06800 Ankara, Turkey [2] Institute of Materials Science and Nanotechnology, Bilkent University, 06800 Ankara, Turkey.
Ersin
E
Huseyinoglu
1] UNAM-National Nanotechnology Research Center, Bilkent University, 06800 Ankara, Turkey [2] Institute of Materials Science and Nanotechnology, Bilkent University, 06800 Ankara, Turkey [3] Department of Physics, Bilkent University, 06800 Ankara, Turkey.
Mehmet
M
Bayindir
D001704:Biopolymers / Q000032:analysis*; D015374:Biosensing Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation*; D045424:Complex Mixtures / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D055617:Micro-Electrical-Mechanical Systems / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008904:Miniaturization; D055096:Optical Devices; D012031:Refractometry / Q000295:instrumentation*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D001704:Biopolymers; D045424:Complex Mixtures