TIRF Array Biosensor for Environmental Monitoring

Optical Biosensors for Label-Free Detection of Small Molecules

“…This change is measured with the aid of two light beams, the sensor, and reference beams, which are combined to produce an interference pattern. The sensor area is functionalized with the recognition element (e.g., antibodies, aptamers, enzymes) which is responsible for the selective recognition of the target analyte, and the immobilization of the recognition element is of crucial importance for the sensor performance [195,196,197]. On the other hand, a good intrinsic reference channel is necessary to obtain high sensitivity [195].…”

“…The sensor area is functionalized with the recognition element (e.g., antibodies, aptamers, enzymes) which is responsible for the selective recognition of the target analyte, and the immobilization of the recognition element is of crucial importance for the sensor performance [195,196,197]. On the other hand, a good intrinsic reference channel is necessary to obtain high sensitivity [195]. The reference channel is designed to take into account the background signals derived from thermal drift, the light source stability, mechanical noise, and non-specific binding, i.e., all the processes that also occur in the sensing channel other than the specific binding event [198].…”

“…Light can be coupled into the waveguide either by prism coupling, end firing, or diffraction grating, the latter being the most commonly used in interferometry measurements due to the simple manufacturing in the waveguide by etching the surface or by embossing. [195].…”