Gold/Silica biochips: applications to Surface Plasmon Resonance and fluorescence quenching

TL;DR

This paper introduces Gold/Silica biochips designed for low-cost biosensors, demonstrating their effectiveness in Surface Plasmon Resonance and fluorescence enhancement by controlling silica thickness to improve sensitivity.

Contribution

The study presents novel Gold/Silica biochips that reduce quenching and optimize fluorescence signals, advancing low-cost, highly sensitive biosensor technology.

Findings

Silica study via Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR)

Gold/Silica biochips reduce fluorescence quenching

Optimized silica thickness enhances fluorescence signals

Abstract

We report Gold/Silica biochips for low cost biosensor devices. Firstly, the study of biochemical interactions on silica by means of Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) is presented. Secondly, Gold/Silica biochips are employed to reduce the strong quenching that occurs when a fluorophore is close to the gold surface. Furthermore, the control of the Silica-like thickness allows optimizing the distance between the metallic surface and the fluorophore in order to enhance the fluorescent signal. These results represent the first steps towards highly sensitive, specific and low cost biosensors based, for example, on Surface Plasmon Coupled Emission (SPCE) techniques.