Self-Assembly of Functional Particles on Optical Element for Sensitivity Improvement of Biochemical Sensor

Abstract

Self-assembled particles have a wide surface area and thus can improve the sensitivity of biochemical sensors that utilize surface reaction. This paper discusses the self-assembly on a convex lens and condensing characteristic of the fluorescence light emitted from the particles. Silica particles of 1 μm in diameter were assembled on a convex lens and then an immunoassay (antigen-antibody reaction) was carried out on it. It was confirmed that the fluorescence emitted from the particles were condensed at the focal point just the same as in traditional optics. This result can be applied to the improvement of sensitivity and simplification of the system by eliminating fluorescence microscopy.