Detection of bacteria using bacteriophages as recognition elements immobilized on long-period fiber gratings

The paper presents for the first time a study of long-period gratings (LPGs) applied for label-free detection of specific bacteria using physically adsorbed bacteriophages. For the purposes of the experiment a number of highly sensitive LPGs working at the turning point of phase matching curve was fabricated in SMF28 fiber using UV exposure. We show that the device allows for real-time monitoring of phenomena taking place on the sensor's surface, including phage-bacteria interactions. For the applied conditions a resonance wavelength shift of ~1.3 nm induced by bacteria binding was observed.