Optical Biosensors

Optical Biosensors

Present and Future
2002, Pages 95-121
Optical Biosensors

Chapter 3 - Planar Waveguides for Fluorescence Biosensors

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Publisher Summary

Total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF) is the process where fluorophores that are either attached to or in close proximity to the surface of a waveguide are selectively excited via an evanescent wave. The use of a planar waveguide allows the immobilization of multiple capture biomolecules and the possibility therefore of multi-analyte detection on a single substrate. Planar waveguide TIRF is used in the measurement of a variety of analytes, including hormones, toxins, bacteria, and viruses, leading to applications in areas such as environmental monitoring, clinical diagnostics, and military defense. Analytes are measured both in buffer and in complex matrices, such as whole blood, nasal secretions, and soil suspensions. Detection limits both in buffer and complex matrices are compared. The continued development and miniaturization of the sensor instrumentation has led to systems that are fully automated and portable, and would be highly competitive with current techniques upon transition to the commercial market.

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