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Updated: May 14, 2026
Use of Label-free Optical Biosensors to Detect Modulation of Potassium Channels by G-protein Coupled Receptors
Published on: February 10, 2014
A fluorescent one-dimensional photonic crystal for label-free biosensing based on BLOCH surface waves
Francesca Frascella1, Serena Ricciardi, Paola Rivolo
1Dipartimento di Scienza Applicata e Tecnologia, Politecnico di Torino, corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24, Turin, Italy. francesca.frascella@polito.it
Abstract:
A one-dimensional photonic crystal (1DPC) based on a planar stack of dielectric layers is used as an optical transducer for biosensing, upon the coupling of TE-polarized Bloch Surface Waves (BSW). The structure is tailored with a polymeric layer providing a chemical functionality facilitating the covalent binding of orienting proteins needed for a subsequent grafting of antibodies in an immunoassay detection scheme. The polymeric layer is impregnated with Cy3 dye, in such a way that the photonic structure can exhibit an emissive behavior. The BSW-coupled fluorescence shift is used as a means for detecting refractive index variations occurring at the 1DPC surface, according to a label-free concept. The proposed working principle is successfully demonstrated in real-time tracking of protein G covalent binding on the 1DPC surface within a fluidic cell.
