CLEO®/europe-EQEC 2011 layer-by-layer (Chitosan/ Polysodium 4-styrenesulfonate) membrane-based fiber optic sensor

With the emergence of nanotechnology in the recent decade, application of nanodeposition techniques in the fabrication of nanosensors, specifically fiber-optic nanosensors, has been fast rising, bringing with it various biological/biomedical-related applications. Principally, one such nanodeposition technique of focus is the electrostatic molecular self-assembly (ESA), also known as layer-by-layer (LBL) assembly. A label-free, LBL, fiber-optic inferometry biosensor for real-time affinity-based protein sensing applications has been proposed. The proposed sensor of Fabry-Perot interferometric (FPI) configuration allows easy detection of affinity-based protein recognition with high sensitivity capitalising on the miniature size, rapid response time, immunity from electromagnetic interference and considerable robustness of fiber-optic sensing systems. The proposed sensor allows for interferometric-based, real-time monitoring of detection response in terms of wavelength shifts in comparison to current detection of changes in optical intensity.