Surface plasmon resonance biosensor based on water-soluble ZnO-Au nanocomposites

A wavelength modulation surface plasmon resonance biosensor based on ZnO-Au nanocomposites for the detection of human IgM was developed. Self-assembly technique has the advantages of flexibility, simplicity and the precise control of film component and was applied to the building of the sensor. The ZnO-Au nanocomposites are in a dumbbell-like shape and can be immobilized on the Au film through 1,6-hexanedithiol by covalent attachment. Meanwhile the activated ZnO nanocrystals can be used to connect protein. The biosensor based on ZnO-Au nanocomposites was used to detect human IgM. Some experimental conditions were examined and optimized. In the selected conditions, the modified biosensor exhibits a satisfactory response for human IgM in the concentration range of 0.30-20.00 microg mL(-1). However, the biosensor without ZnO-Au nanocomposites shows a response for human IgM in the concentration range of 1.25-20.00 microg mL(-1). Compared with the biosensor based on Au film, when the biosensor based on the ZnO-Au nanocomposites was applied, the sensitivity for determination of human IgM is significantly enhanced.