The work discusses the possible impact of the electric charge of biological material on the properties of label-free biosensors, in particular those operating in dual domains, i.e., optical and electrochemical. Optical fiber lossy-mode resonance (LMR) sensors based on indium tin oxide (ITO) were investigated as label-free biosensors with a model biological receptor-target pair, i.e., biotin-avidin. Each of the used biological materials shows different properties, i.e., size, isoelectric point, and, therefore, also charge. The investigations were performed in two electrolytes with differently charged redox couples to better identify the possible influence of chargé of biological material on the optical readout. The obtained results clearly indicate that in designing label-free biosensing solutions, consideration of a broader range of biological materials properties than just refractive index, such as their charge, is required.
Nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers are crystallographic defects which provide diamonds with unique physical properties. The centers are known for their intensive, time-stable fluorescence, and an electron spin, which exhibits long coherence time and may be manipulated using external stimuli. Nanodiamonds containing the NV centers are promising tools in biolabeling, biosensing, and drug delivery due to the aforementioned properties of the defects combined with a chemical inertness of a core and an easily functionalized surface of the diamond.
Many biochemical reactions are pH-sensitive, therefore, in order to utilize the NV centers for monitoring of such processes, the pH-dependency of the properties of the nanodiamonds needs to be well-understood. Functionalization of the nanodiamonds’ surfaces with biological molecules undergoing pH-triggered changes of conformation, e.g. poly-L-lysine, could not only increase the particles’ biocompatibility and promote cell adhesion, but also possibly enhance pH-sensitivity.
In the present study, an impact of pH on the fluorescence, a zeta potential, and a contact angle of the NV centers-containing nanodiamonds dispersed in liquid media is examined. The suspensions were made of commercially available, fluorescent diamond particles in an as-received, unmodified state, and after the poly-L-lysine had been attached to their surfaces via two different procedures – in aqueous, and anhydrous environment. Values of pH of dispersion media were specifically chosen to induce diverse conformation of the poly-L-lysine: from a fully relaxed conformation, through a state of being neither wholly extended, nor helical, to a complete α-helix conformation.
The intensity of the photoluminescence emitted by the NV centers has been found to depend on the pH-triggered conformation of the poly-L-lysine attached to the surfaces of the nanodiamonds. The impact of the conformation of the poly-L-lysine on the electric charge of the nanoparticles has also been analyzed. This study confirms the potential of the nitrogen-vacancy centers for optical sensing of pH-triggered processes.
This work discusses optical fiber sensors based on lossy-mode resonance (LMR) effect and their potential for simultaneous sensing in multiple domains, i.e., optical and electrochemical. As electrically conductive materials able to guide lossy modes, two doped tin oxides, i.e., fluorine doped tin oxide (FTO) and indium tin oxide (ITO) thin films were employed. Since the ITO-LMR sensor has already been discussed broader, this work focuses on properties of the FTO-LMR sensor and brief comparison of devices based on the two materials. In optical domain the sensitivity to surrounding medium refractive index was determined by immersing the sensors in solutions of different refractive index. Both the sensors showed sensitivity of 300 nm/RIU in a refractive index range of approx. 1.33-1.39 RIU. Electrochemical measurements were performed in 0.01 M phosphate-buffered saline (PBS, pH 7.0) to identify the influence of the applied potential on the optical response of both sensors. In applied potential from -1.0 V to 1.0 V the FTO-LMR sensor reached LMR shift of 31.3 nm compared to 23.8 nm of the ITO-LMR one.
Glass and fiber structures with Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) coating were subjected to annealing in order to identify impact of the thermal treatment on their optical and electrochemical properties. It is shown that the annealing process significantly modifies optical properties and thickness of the films, which are crucial for performance of optical fiber sensors. Moreover, it visibly improves electrochemical activity of ITO on glass slides and thicker (∅=400 μm) ITO-coated fibers, whereas in the case of thinner fibers (∅=125 μm) it could lead to a loss of their electrochemical activity. Depending on the applied substrate and the annealing process, the investigated structures with ITO coating can be further used as fiber-based sensors with integrated opto-electrochemical readout.
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