Novel transducers for nano-optical biosensor chips based on biological and synthetic polymers with analyte-dependent swelling/shrinking behavior

Abstract

Analyte-dependent swelling/shrinking properties of ultrathin polymer layers are an appropriate means for the detection of various analytes. Optical metal nanoclusters can be used to determine the change of the layer's thickness, which is shown by a change in the color of the chip. By using different cross-linking agents and different polymers (biological or artificial as well) it was possible to design various sensitive layers showing different swelling/shrinking behaviors. Sensitivity on various analytes could be observed, since the different types of polymers employed differed in structure, functional groups, or biorecognitive properties.