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Total internal reflection ellipsometry as a label-free assessment method for optimization of the reactive surface of bioassay devices based on a functionalized cycloolefin polymer

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Abstract

We report a label-free optical detection technique, called total internal reflection ellipsometry (TIRE), which can be applied to study the interactions between biomolecules and a functionalized polymer surface. Zeonor (ZR), a cycloolefin polymer with low autofluorescence, high optical transmittance and excellent chemical resistance, is a highly suitable material for optical biosensor platforms owing to the ease of fabrication. It can also be modified with a range of reactive chemical groups for surface functionalization. We demonstrate the applications of TIRE in monitoring DNA hybridization assays and human chorionic gonadotrophin sandwich immunoassays on the ZR surface functionalized with carboxyl groups. The Ψ and Δ spectra obtained after the binding of each layer of analyte have been fitted to a four-layer ellipsometric model to quantitatively determine the amount of analytes bound specifically to the functionalized ZR surface. Our proposed TIRE technique with its very low analyte consumption and its microfluidic array format could be a useful tool for evaluating several crucial parameters in immunoassays, DNA interactions, adsorption of biomolecules to solid surfaces, or assessment of the reactivity of a functionalized polymer surface towards a specific analyte.

(a) Total internal reflection ellipsometry (TIRE) experimental setup (b) Typical Ψ and Δ spectra of the sensing substrate measured in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS)

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Acknowledgements

This material is based upon work supported by the Science Foundation Ireland under grant no. 08/CE3/B754. D.E.W. is an E.T.S. Walton Visiting Fellow of Science Foundation Ireland. The authors would like to thank J. Garcia-Cordero for helping with the design and fabrication of the flow-cell. The authors also thank M. Stchakovsky and D. Sheppard from HORIBA Jobin Yvon for helping with the ellipsometric fitting.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Biomedical Diagnostics Institute (BDI), Dublin City University, Dublin 9, Republic of Ireland

    Nam Cao Hoai Le, Vladimir Gubala, Ram P. Gandhiraman, Conor Coyle, Stephen Daniels & David E. Williams

  2. National Centre for Plasma Science and Technology (NCPST), Dublin City University, Dublin 9, Republic of Ireland

    Conor Coyle & Stephen Daniels

  3. MacDiarmid Institute for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology, Department of Chemistry, University of Auckland, Auckland, 1142, New Zealand

    David E. Williams

Authors
  1. Nam Cao Hoai Le
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  2. Vladimir Gubala
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  3. Ram P. Gandhiraman
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  4. Conor Coyle
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  5. Stephen Daniels
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  6. David E. Williams
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Correspondence to Nam Cao Hoai Le.

Additional information

Published in the special issue Optical Biochemical and Chemical Sensors (Europtrode X) with guest editor Jiri Homola.

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Le, N.C.H., Gubala, V., Gandhiraman, R.P. et al. Total internal reflection ellipsometry as a label-free assessment method for optimization of the reactive surface of bioassay devices based on a functionalized cycloolefin polymer. Anal Bioanal Chem 398, 1927–1936 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-010-4099-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-010-4099-4

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