Ink-jet printed, blended polymer-based microdisk resonators for controlling non-specific adsorption of biomolecules

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Biotechnology
• Optoelectronics

Background:

• Non-specific adsorption of biomolecules on biosensor surfaces can compromise performance.
• Controlling surface charge is crucial for minimizing unwanted interactions in biosensing.

Purpose of the Study:

• To fabricate a polymer-based microdisk laser using a blend of charged polymers.
• To investigate the control of microdisk surface charge by varying polymer ratios.
• To demonstrate label-free biosensing capabilities and reduced non-specific adsorption.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a microdisk laser using ink-jet printing with a blend of FC-V-50 (negative charge) and TZ-001 (positive charge) polymers.
• Controlled surface charge by adjusting the mixing ratio of the two polymers.
• Studied non-specific adsorption of bovine serum albumin and lysozyme.
• Demonstrated label-free biosensing of streptavidin.

Main Results:

• Successfully fabricated a blended polymer microdisk laser.
• Demonstrated effective control over microdisk surface charge by altering polymer ratios.
• Significantly reduced non-specific adsorption of model proteins.
• Achieved label-free detection of streptavidin, showcasing biosensing potential.

Conclusions:

• A novel blended polymer microdisk laser offers a method to control surface charge and mitigate non-specific adsorption.
• This approach enhances biosensor performance by minimizing unwanted biomolecular interactions.
• The developed microdisk laser is a promising platform for sensitive, label-free biosensing applications.