IfLS Imaging Seminar: Plasmonic fiber optic probes for physical, chemical and biosensing Event

 

Abstract: Fiber optic sensors have a great potential for a variety of applications ranging from medical diagnostics to structural health monitoring. This is not only due to the advantages such as remote monitoring and immunity to electromagnetic interference but also their ability to offer unparalleled sensitivity and simplicity. Fiber optic sensor probes bent in the form of a U-shape offer enhanced sensitivity by means of improved attenuated total reflection (ATR) or evanescent wave absorbance (EWA). In addition, U-bent fiber probes are more compact, ergonomic and allow easy optical coupling with optical source and photodetector. These characteristics of fiber probes combined with plasmonic nanomaterials are efficiently exploited for development of sensitive localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) and Surface Enhanced SERS based refractive index sensors or biosensors.

This talk focuses on applications of these probes for physical, chemical and biosensors. Firstly, biosensing schemes realized on these probes for label-free detection of proteins and pathogens, followed by zemptomol (10^-18 mol) detection of proteins with the help of gold nanoparticle labels will be highlighted. Secondly, various critical aspects in development of plastic optical fiber (POF) U-bent probes as alternative to conventional silica fibers will be discussed. In addition, some of the interesting results on measurement of force and pressure using U-bent POF probes will also be discussed.

References:

Priyanka V, Zohreh K., Sai V V R, Claus-Peter Klages, PMMA Surface Functionalization using Atmospheric Pressure Plasma for Development of Plasmonically Active Polymer Optical Fiber Probes, Plasma Processes and Plasma Chemistry, (accepted). DOI: 10.1007/s11090-016-9717-2

Gowri A and Sai V V R, 'Development of of LSPR based U-Bent Plastic Optical Fiber Sensors' Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical, 2016, 230, 536–543.

Ramakrishna B and Sai V V R, " Evanescent wave absorbance based U-bent fiber probe for immunobiosensor with gold nanoparticle labels", Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical 2016, 226, 184-190.