Search for content and authors
 

Label free diagnostic tool based on Whispering Gallery Modes

Mateusz G. Olszyna ,  Michael Himmelhaus ,  Lars Dähne 

Abstract

The success in preparing monodisperse fluorescent microparticles with almost ideal spherical shape during the last 20 years allowed the observation of so called Whispering Gallery Modes (WGM) after excitation of the particles by light. Therefore, several publications and patents were published claiming the usage of such particles for the detection of biomolecules like DNA, RNA, antibodies or other Proteins by specific interaction with the functionalized particles surface. Due to changes in the surface refractive index by adsorption of such molecules, the WGM shifts very sensitive, allowing a quantitative analysis of such molecules. This analytical method is completely independent of pre-modification of the bio-molecules with fluorescent dyes or other markers.

The aim of this study is preparation and functionalization of microparticles for label free diagnostics by means of Whispering Gallery Modes.

A comparable method on planar surfaces the Surface Plasmon Resonance is already widely used by the BIACORE instruments. But due to the expensive instrument and the complicated preparation of special chips the costs per measurement are very high. Results of my investigation showed that WGM analysis could be remarkably lowered by using microparticles in microfluidic cells.

 

Legal notice
  • Legal notice:
 

Presentation: Poster at Nano and Advanced Materials Workshop and Fair, by Mateusz G. Olszyna
See On-line Journal of Nano and Advanced Materials Workshop and Fair

Submitted: 2013-07-18 11:14
Revised:   2013-07-19 11:03