Low cost sensors based on SPR in a plastic optical fiber for biosensor implementation

Area of Science:

• Photonics and Optical Sensing
• Plasmonics
• Fiber Optic Sensors

Background:

• Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) is a label-free optical sensing technique.
• Plastic Optical Fibers (POFs) offer cost-effective and flexible platforms for sensor development.
• Accurate refractive index measurement is crucial for various analytical applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To fabricate and evaluate two configurations of SPR-based optical sensor systems.
• To assess the suitability of these sensors for measuring liquid refractive indexes.
• To explore the potential of these sensors for biosensing applications.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of sandwiched structures on exposed Plastic Optical Fiber cores.
• Integration of SPR principles for sensing.
• Testing sensor performance with liquid samples around a refractive index of 1.35.

Main Results:

• Successful fabrication and testing of two SPR sensor configurations.
• Demonstrated suitability for measuring refractive indexes of liquids near 1.35.
• Identified the sensing head as low-cost and easy to fabricate.

Conclusions:

• The developed SPR sensors based on POF are effective for refractive index measurements.
• The cost-effectiveness and ease of fabrication make them attractive for biosensor development.
• Further research can leverage this platform for advanced biological detection.