Highly sensitive optical fibre long period grating biosensor anchored with silica core gold shell nanoparticles

An optical fibre long period grating (LPG), modified with a coating of silica core gold shell (SiO2:Au) nanoparticles (NPs) deposited using the layer-by-layer method, was employed for the development of a biosensor. The SiO2:Au NPs were electrostatically assembled onto the LPG with the aid of a poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH) polycation layer. The LPG sensor operates at the phase matching turning point to provide the highest sensitivity. The SiO2:Au NPs were modified with biotin, which was used as a ligand for streptavidin (SV) detection. The sensing mechanism is based on the measurement of the refractive index change induced by the binding of the SV to the biotin. The effect on sensitivity of increasing the surface area by virtue of the SiO2:Au nanoparticles’ diameter and film thickness was studied. The lowest measured concentration of SV was 2.5 nM, achieved using an LPG modified with a 3 layer (PAH/SiO2:Au) thin film composed of SiO2 NPs of 300 nm diameter with a binding constant o

Sensitive protein detection using an optical fibre long period grating sensor anchored with silica core gold shell nanoparticles

Copyright ©2014 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers. This paper was published in the Proceedings of SPIE and is made available with permission of SPIE. One print or electronic copy may be made for personal use only. Systematic electronic or print reproduction and distribution, duplication of any material in this paper for a fee or for commercial purposes, or modification of the content of the paper are prohibited.An optical fibre long period grating (LPG), modified with a coating of silica gold (SiO2:Au) core/shell nanoparticles (NPs) deposited using the layer-by-layer (LbL) method, was employed for the development of a bio-sensor. The SiO2:Au NPs were electrostatically assembled onto the LPG with the aid of a poly(hydrochloride ammonium) (PAH) polycation layer. The LPG sensor operates at the phase matching turning point to provide the highest sensitivity. The SiO2:Au NPs were modified with biotin, which was used as a ligand for streptavidin (SV) detection. The sensing mechanism is based on the measurement of the refractive index change induced by the binding of the SV to the biotin. The lowest detected concentration of SV was 19 nM using an LPG modified with a 3 layer (PAH/SiO2:Au) thin film

Biomedical application of optical fibre sensors

Optical fibre sensors(OFS), as a result of their unique properties such as small size, no interference with electromagnetic radiation, high sensitivity and the ability to design multiplexed or distributed sensing systems, have found applications ranging from structural health monitoring to biomedical and point of care instrumentation. While the former represents the main commercial application for OFS, there is body of literature concerning the deployment of this versatile sensing platform in healthcare. This paper reviews the different types of OFS and their most recent applications in healthcare. It aims to help clinicians to better understand OFS technology and also provides an overview of the challenges involved in the deployment of developed technology in healthcare. Examples of the application of OFS in healthcare are discussed with particular emphasis on recently (2015–2017) published works to avoid replicating recent review papers. The majority of the work on the development of biomedical OFS stops at the laboratory stage and, with a few exceptions, is not explored in healthcare settings. OFSs have yet to fulfil their great potential in health care and methods of increasing the adoption of medical devices based on optical fibres are discussed. It is important to consider these factors early in the device development process for successful translation of the developed sensors to healthcare practice

Selective vancomycin detection using optical fibre long period gratings functionalised with molecularly imprinted polymer nanoparticles

An optical fibre long period grating (LPG) sensor modified with molecularly imprinted polymer nanoparticles (nanoMIPs) for the specific detection of antibiotics is presented. The operation of the sensor is based on the measurement of changes in refractive index induced by the interaction of nanoMIPs deposited onto the cladding of the LPG with free vancomycin (VA). The binding of nanoMIPs to vancomycin was characterised by a binding constant of 4.3 ± 0.1 × 10−8 M. The lowest concentration of analyte measured by the fibre sensor was 10 nM. In addition, the sensor exhibited selectivity, as much smaller responses were obtained for high concentrations (∼700 μM) of other commonly prescribed antibiotics such as amoxicillin, bleomycin and gentamicin. In addition, the response of the sensor was characterised in a complex matrix, porcine plasma, spiked with 10 μM of VA

All-optical switching based on optical fibre long period gratings modified bacteriorhodopsin

All-optical switching using an optical fibre long-period gating (LPG) modified with bacteriorhodopsin (bR) is demonstrated. The switching process is based on the photo-induced RI change of bR, which in turn changes the phase matching conditions of the mode coupling by the LPG, leading to modulation of the propagating light. The effect was studied with an LPG immersed into a bR solution and with LPGs coated with the bR films, deposited onto the LPGs using the layer-by-layer electrostatic self-assembly (LbL) method. The dependence of the all-optical switching efficiency upon the concentration of the bR solution and on the grating period of the LPG was also studied. In addition, an in-fibre Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) composed of a cascaded LPG pair separated by 30 mm and modified with bR was used to enhance the wavelength range of all-optical switching. The switching wavelength is determined by the grating period of the LPG. Switching efficiencies of 16% and 35% were observed when an LPG and an MZI were immersed into bR solutions, respectively. The switching time for devices coated with bRfilms was within 1 s, 10 times faster than that observed for devices immersed into bR solution

All-optical switching based on optical fibre long period gratings modified bacteriorhodopsin

All-optical switching using an optical fibre long-period gating (LPG) modified with bacteriorhodopsin (bR) is demonstrated. The switching process is based on the photo-induced RI change of bR, which in turn changes the phase matching conditions of the mode coupling by the LPG, leading to modulation of the propagating light. The effect was studied with an LPG immersed into a bR solution and with LPGs coated with the bR films, deposited onto the LPGs using the layer-by-layer electrostatic self-assembly (LbL) method. The dependence of the all-optical switching efficiency upon the concentration of the bR solution and on the grating period of the LPG was also studied. In addition, an in-fibre Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) composed of a cascaded LPG pair separated by 30 mm and modified with bR was used to enhance the wavelength range of all-optical switching. The switching wavelength is determined by the grating period of the LPG. Switching efficiencies of 16% and 35% were observed when an LPG and an MZI were immersed into bR solutions, respectively. The switching time for devices coated with bRfilms was within 1 s, 10 times faster than that observed for devices immersed into bR solution

U-shape functionalized optical fibre sensors for measurement of anaesthetic propofol

Propofol is used widely for intravenous anaesthesia during surgery and sedation in critical care. There is no method currently to assay the concentration of propofol in plasma in real time. The ability to do so would significantly improve patient safety. A novel approach to propofol assay consisting of Beta-Cyclodextrin (β−CD) assisted propofol-imprinting onto TiO2 films deposited on U-shaped optical fibres was used for the measurement of propofol in aqueous solutions. The sensing mechanism is based on the measurement of the refractive index change induced by the removing and binding of the propofol from and to the β−CD/propofol complex embedded onto TiO2 films, respectively. Complexation between host (β−CD) and guest (propofol) was confirmed by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, UV-Vis spectroscopy, and by Attenuated Total Reflectance- Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The developed sensors presented Langmuir adsorption in the mM range and the lowest concentration detected was 0.69 μM= 0.12 μg/ml. The approach can be replicated for other compounds in other biomedical applications such as vitamins, hormones, or drugs

Intra-tracheal multiplexed sensing of contact pressure and perfusion

Incorrect endotracheal tube (ETT) cuff inflation pressure causes significant problems for intubated patients. The technical development and first in vivo use of a smart ETT for measurements at the cuff-trachea interface during mechanical ventilation are described. The intra-tracheal multiplexed sensing (iTraXS) ETT contains integrated optical fibre sensors to measure contact pressure and blood perfusion. The device is tested during mechanical ventilation in a porcine model (N=6). For contact pressure, signals were obtained in all 30 measurements. For perfusion, data could be obtained in all 33 measurements. In the 3 cases where the cuff was inflated to an artificially high-level, blood occlusion is observed

Highly sensitive optical fibre Bragg grating contact pressure sensor embedded in a polymer layer: modelling and experimental validation

This paper discusses mathematical modelling and experimental validation of a highly sensitive optical fibre Bragg grating (FBG) contact pressure sensor developed for healthcare applications. Bare FBGs are not very sensitive to pressure (~ 3x10-3 nm/MPa) but this can be increased by embedding the FBG in a polymer layer which acts as transducer to convert transverse load (pressure) applied to an axial strain, measured by the FBG sensor. The pressure sensitivity of the FBG sensor depends on the mechanical and physical properties such as Young's modulus, shape and size of the polymer. A finite element analysis (FEA) model is developed to optimise the design parameters of the FBG sensor in order to achieve a high sensitivity. A transfer matrix mathematical formulism is then used to relate the reflection spectrum of the FBG to the strain experienced. Three different shapes, three different sizes and three different polymer materials with different Young's moduli have been simulated and their wavelength sensitivities related to the transverse pressure. According to the simulation results, the pressure sensitivity of a bare FBG can be increased ~270 times (0.8179 nm/MPa) by selecting an FBG of 3mm length, embedding it at the horizontal centre of a polymer layer of Young's modulus of 20 MPa, in the shape of a circular disc with a diameter 5.5 mm and thickness of 1 mm.

Selective vancomycin detection using optical fibre long period gratings functionalised with molecularly imprinted polymer nanoparticles

An optical fibre long period grating (LPG) sensor modified with molecularly imprinted polymer nanoparticles (nanoMIPs) for the specific detection of antibiotics is presented. The operation of the sensor is based on the measurement of changes in refractive index induced by the interaction of nanoMIPs deposited onto the cladding of the LPG with free vancomycin (VA). The binding of nanoMIPs to vancomycin was characterised by a binding constant of 4.3 ± 0.1 × 10(-8) M. The lowest concentration of analyte measured by the fibre sensor was 10 nM. In addition, the sensor exhibited selectivity, as much smaller responses were obtained for high concentrations (∼700 μM) of other commonly prescribed antibiotics such as amoxicillin, bleomycin and gentamicin. In addition, the response of the sensor was characterised in a complex matrix, porcine plasma, spiked with 10 μM of VA