Tapered plastic optical fiber-based biosensor – Tests and application

• Published in: Biosensors & bioelectronics Vol. 30; no. 1; pp. 328 - 332
• Main Authors: Beres, Carolina, de Nazaré, Fábio Vieira Batista, de Souza, Nathália Correa Chagas, Miguel, Marco Antônio Lemos, Werneck, Marcelo Martins
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier B.V 15.12.2011; Elsevier
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Biosensing Techniques - instrumentation; Biosensor; Biosensors; Biotechnology; Cell detection; Equipment Design; Equipment Failure Analysis; Fiber Optic Technology - instrumentation; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Immunoassay - instrumentation; Methods. Procedures. Technologies; Plastic optical fiber; Various methods and equipments; Plastic optical fiber; Biosensor; Cell detection; Optical sensor; Detection; Plastics; Application; Optical fiber
• ISSN: 0956-5663; 1873-4235
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2011.09.024

► Study of the waist diameter influence in tapered plastic optical fiber (POF) applied in biosensing. ► U-shaped POF applied in biosensing. ► Comparison of the biosensor's response to bacterial cells, yeasts and blood cells. Cells detection is crucial in microbiological analysis of clinical, food, water or environmental samples. However, currently employed methods are time consuming. Plastic optical fiber (POF) biosensors consist in a viable alternative for rapid and inexpensive scheme for detection. In order to study the sensitivity of tapers for microbiological detection, geometric parameters are studied, such as the taper waist diameter since the formation of taper regions are the key sensing element in this particular type of sensors. In this study, a series of POF taper sensors were prepared using a specially developed tapering machine, and the dispersion of geometric dimensions is evaluated, aiming to achieve the best tapering characteristics which will provide a better sensitivity on the sensor response. The fiber tapers that presented the finest results were those constructed in U-shaped (bended) configurations, with taper waist diameters ranging from 0.40 mm up to 0.50 mm. These fiber tapers were used as the main section of the monitoring device, and when chemically treated as immunosensors for the detection of bacteria, yeast and erythrocytes.