Surface treatments for surface plasmon resonance biosensors

We report the development of novel surface treatments for high-throughput surface plasmon resonance (SPR) biosensors. Noble metal surfaces have been treated with different types of coatings to allow both the robot printing of biomolecules and in situ DNA synthesis. A uniform, hydrophobic, amine group terminated SPR sensing surface has been developed for the robot printing of biomolecules dissolved in aqueous solutions. Exceptionally stable films were developed for in situ DNA synthesis. In addition, protective coatings for silver surfaces were developed to make high-sensitivity SPR biosensors using silver films practical.