Enhanced Fluorescence in a Lens-Less Fiber-Optic Sensor for C-Reactive Protein Detection

Year: 2023

Authors: Esteso V.; Lombardi P.; Chiavaioli F.; Majumder P.; Colautti M.; Howitz S.; Cecchi P.; Baldini F.; Giannetti A.; Toninelli C.

Autors Affiliation: Natl Inst Opt CNR INO, LENS, Via Nello Carrara 1, I-50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy; European Lab Nonlinear Spect LENS, Via Nello Carrara 1, I-50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy; Natl Res Council Italy CNR, Inst Appl Phys Nello Carrara IFAC, Via Madonna Piano 10, I-50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy; GeSiM Gesell Silizium Mikrosyst MbH, Bautzner Landstr 45, D-01454 Radeberg, Germany; Cecchi SRL, Viadotto Ponte Indiano 20, I-50142 Florence, Italy.

Abstract: In today´s medicine, the celerity of the bio-assays analysis is crucial for the timely selection of the appropriate therapy and hence its effectiveness, especially in case of diseases characterized by the late onset of symptoms. In this paper, a lens-less fiber optics-based fluorescence sensor designed for the measurement of labeled bio-assays is presented and its potential for the early diagnosis of sepsis via C-reactive protein (CRP) detection is demonstrated. The sensor performance results from the combination of two key elements: a planar antenna that redirects fluorescence the marker emission and an automated fiber-based optical system for multi-spot analysis. First, the working principle of the device is demonstrated with a well-established antibody-antigen format (immunoglobulin IgG/anti-IgG assay), reporting more than one order of magnitude enhanced limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) for the planar antenna with respect to a standard glass substrate. The prototype is then tested against a sample mimicking a realistic case, prepared with commercially available human serum, showing a LOD and LOQ in the clinical range of interest (0.0015 mu g/mL and 0.005 mu g/mL, respectively) for the investigation of the sepsis biomarker CRP. These results validate the developed prototype as a simple and easy-to-operate device, compatible with standardized micro-well arrays, and potentially suitable for POC applications.

Journal/Review: CHEMOSENSORS

Volume: 11 (8)      Pages from: 448-1  to: 448-11

More Information: This research was funded by the Horizon 2020 program with the project ERA-NET COFUND, through the “Photonic based sensing” call of Regione Toscana (GA n. 688735) and Bundesministerium fur Bildung und Forschung (13N14746).
KeyWords: lens-less light collection; fiber-based sensor; protein biomarker
DOI: 10.3390/chemosensors11080448

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