A Low-Cost Biomolecular Detection Platform Integrating Meta-SPR with Industrial Machine Vision for Affinity Analysis

Precise biomolecular affinity analysis is fundamental for understanding biological processes and for drug discovery, yet current methodologies often involve high costs and operational complexity. This work introduces a novel, low-cost biomolecular detection platform that synergistically integrates meta-surface plasmon resonance (Meta-SPR) sensing with industrial machine vision for robust and accessible affinity analysis. We systematically optimized the system architecture, imaging conditions, and Meta-SPR chip design to achieve enhanced sensitivity, real-time kinetic monitoring, and user-friendliness at a significantly reduced system cost. The platform's capabilities were validated through the successful screening of affinity antibodies, effectively identifying high-affinity binders, and through detailed affinity analysis of ectodysplasin A (EDA) mutants. This analysis revealed the critical functional role of the A259E residue in EDA-EDAR (ectodysplasin A receptor) binding, and the measured affinity for wild-type trimeric EDA demonstrated high concordance with previously published data. Our results establish this integrated Meta-SPR machine vision system as a powerful, cost-effective, and versatile tool poised to democratize advanced biophysical characterization for a broader range of research and diagnostic applications.