Real-Time Detection of Label-Free Protein Adsorption
Researchers at Purdue University have developed a method for the novel use of nonlinear optical null ellipsometry for background-free, real-time biosensing of protein/surface interactions. Adsorption of bovine serum albumin (BSA) at silica/aqueous solution interfaces was used to induce a change in the polarization state of frequency-doubled light. This change in polarization is translated through weak, dynamic interactions with a co-absorbed nonlinear optical probe molecule. Signals arising from surface interactions with BSA were spatially isolated and selectively detected during BSA adsorption and confirmed conformational changes within the protein layer, consistent with denaturation. This technology allows for chiral-specific detection in small sample sizes with unprecedented sensitivity to chirality and requiring relatively simple instrumentation. Chiral synthesis, separation, and detection are hot topics and current optical detection methods are not particularly sensitive to chirality.
Greater flexibility of selectionBetter retention and content of phase information Nonlinear sensitivity to changes
Chemical AnalysisBiosensors
Garth SimpsonSimpson Lab for Nonlinear OpticsPurdue Chemistry
United States
7,336,359
USA
