Novel miniature SPR immunosensor equipped with all-in-one multi-microchannel sensor chip for detecting low-molecular-weight analytes.

A simple and versatile miniaturized surface plasmon resonance (SPR) immunosensor enabling parallel analysis of multiple analytes or multiple samples of an analyte has been investigated for detection of a low-molecular-weight (lmw) toxin, 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D). A specially designed multi-microchannel SPR sensor module, integrating an optical-prism coated with an array of thin Au-films, a multi-microchannel plate (eight channels) and a flow-cell together, has been fabricated. The sensing surface was fabricated simply by physical adsorption of a protein conjugate of 2,4-D, and an indirect competitive immunoassay principle has been applied for the quantification of 2,4-D. Multiple 2,4-D samples were analyzed in a single step and a low-detection-limit (LDL) of 0.1 ppb (ng ml(-1)) 2,4-D was established. Competence of the portable SPR immunosensor for selective detection of 2,4-D despite the presence of various structurally resemblant interferents and from river-water samples has been demonstrated. The independent all-in-one sensor module highly favors shelf-storage between multiple determinations, and reusability of a same multi-microchannel flow-module for more than 35 days with intermittent storage (4-8 degrees C) has been confirmed. The LDL of 2,4-D could be enhanced further by introducing a simple avidin-biotin interaction-based sandwich immunoassay, with which the sensor signal multiplied enormously by a factor of ca. 10 and the LDL enhanced to 0.008 ppb. The miniature SPR sensor demonstrated here for simultaneous analysis of multiple samples with reusability and good storage ability is an important consideration for the advancement of biosensor technology.

Self-assembled PEG monolayer based SPR immunosensor for label-free detection of insulin.

A simple and rapid continuous-flow immunosensor based on surface plasmon resonance (SPR) has been developed for detection of insulin as low as 1 ng ml-1 (ppb) with a response time of less than 5 min. At first, a heterobifunctional oligo(ethyleneglycol)-dithiocarboxylic acid derivative (OEG-DCA) containing dithiol and carboxyl end groups was used to functionalize the thin Au-film of SPR chip. Insulin was covalently bound to the Au-thiolate monolayer of OEG-DCA for activating the sensor surface to immunoaffinity interactions. An on-line competitive immunosensing principle is examined for detection of insulin, in which the direct affinity binding of anti-insulin antibody to the insulin on sensor surface is examined in the presence and absence of various concentrations of insulin. Immunoreaction of anti-insulin antibody with the sensor surface was optimized with reference to antibody concentration, sample analysis time and flow-rate to provide the desired detection limit and determination range. With the immunosensor developed, the lowest detectable concentration of insulin is 1 ng ml-1 and the determination range covers a wide concentration of 1-300 ng ml-1. The developed OEG-monolayer based sensor chip exhibited high resistance to non-specific adsorption of proteins, and an uninterrupted highly sensitive detection of insulin from insulin-impregnated serum samples has been demonstrated. After an immunoreaction cycle, active sensor surface was regenerated simply by a brief flow of an acidic buffer (glycine.HCl; pH 2.0) for less than 1 min. A same sensor chip was found reusable for more than 25 cycles without an appreciable change in the original sensor activity.