Title :
Low level detection of microcystin using a plasmonic biosensor
Author :
Briscoe, Jayson L. ; Sang-Yeon Cho
Author_Institution :
Klipsch Sch. of Electr. & Comput. Eng., New Mexico State Univ., Las Cruces, NM, USA
Abstract :
The presence of cyanobacterial blooms in fresh water has increased due to the accelerated eutrophication of surface water sources. Catastrophic impact to local human and wildlife ecosystems from blooms is linked to the release of hepatotoxins, such as microcystins, into fresh water sources. Therefore, a low-cost, reliable, and highly sensitive method for low concentration detection of microcystins is vitally important to minimize public health risks. In this paper, we report on the first experimental demonstration of microcystins-LR (MC-LR) at low part-per-trillion levels. The demonstrated sensor uses periodically coupled artificial nanostructures to excite a highly sensitive electromagnetic surface wave which directly probes interactions between immobilized antibodies and MC-LR. A layer-by-layer polyelectrolyte adsorption process is utilized to provide highly stable and site-directed immobilization of target antibodies. Steady-state response of the fabricated biosensor confirms detection of MC-LR antigens at low part-per-trillion concentration levels. This demonstration is an important first step towards the development of a lab-on-a-chip sensing systems for in-situ, real-time, distributed environmental monitoring of MC-LR levels in drinking water.
Keywords :
adsorption; biosensors; lab-on-a-chip; molecular biophysics; nanobiotechnology; nanosensors; plasmonics; polymer electrolytes; proteins; surface electromagnetic waves; toxicology; MC-LR antigens; accelerated eutrophication; catastrophic impact; cyanobacterial blooms; drinking water; fresh water sources; hepatotoxin release; highly sensitive electromagnetic surface wave; immobilized antibodies; in-situ real-time distributed environmental monitoring; lab-on-a-chip sensing systems; layer-by-layer polyelectrolyte adsorption; low-level microcystin detection; microcystins-LR; periodically coupled artificial nanostructures; plasmonic biosensor; site-directed immobilization; steady-state response; surface water sources; Biomedical optical imaging; Biosensors; Optical sensors; Optical surface waves; Plasmons; Surface treatment; Biosensors; cyanobacteria; microcystins; optical sensor; surface plasmon polaritons;
Conference_Titel :
SENSORS, 2014 IEEE
Conference_Location :
Valencia
DOI :
10.1109/ICSENS.2014.6984996