Published by the distinguished journal, Scientific Reports, a groundbreaking study, bearing the Digital Object Identifier (DOI) 10.1038/s41598-019-43531-w, has unveiled an innovative method of detecting bovine serum albumin (BSA) protein utilizing an optical fiber Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) sensing probe biofunctionalized with antibodies. This study signals a significant advancement in the biosensing sector, skyrocketing the efficiency and speed of BSA detection to extraordinary levels and presenting an array of industrial and clinical applications.
The study aptly titled “Two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides assisted biofunctionalized optical fiber SPR biosensor for efficient and rapid detection of bovine serum albumin” was conducted by Siddharth S. Kaushik, Umesh K. Tiwari, Akash Deep, and Ravindra K. Sinha of the CSIR-Central Scientific Instruments Organization and the Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research at CSIR-CSIO Campus, Chandigarh, India. Their research not only shines a spotlight on the impressive attributes of two-dimensional (2D) transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) but also outlines a method that may well become the linchpin in emergent SPR biosensing technologies.
The study elegantly demonstrates the employment of Molybdenum disulfide (MoS2), a TMDC, to modify the surface of a gold-coated optical fiber, which serves as the basis for the SPR biosensor. MoS2’s unique properties, such as its high surface-to-volume ratio, strong signal enhancement, and compatibility with biomolecules, make it an excellent candidate for biosensor applications. The research team successfully biofunctionalized this sensor with specific antibodies targeting BSA, one of the most abundant serum proteins and a model analyte in protein detection studies.
In order to evaluate the effectiveness of their novel biosensor, the researchers gauged its sensitivity, limit of detection, and specificity. The results were compared with existing semiconductor- and polymer-based SPR sensors and were found to be superior, thanks to the pioneering application of MoS2. The quality of the sensing surface and its interaction with light, driven by modified gold nanoparticles on a 2D MoS2 matrix, were contributing factors to the sensor’s enhanced performance.
The study is complemented by a set of meticulously recorded experimental sections with detailed protocols on sensor fabrication and analyte detection, which can serve as a step-by-step guide for similar applications in both academia and industry. These methods underscore the ease of integrating the described biosensor into existing equipment and its potential for widespread application.
The research has been extensively supported and acknowledged, as evidenced by a strong network of references indicating the growing interest and work in the fields of plasmonic biosensing, 2D materials, and bio-nanotechnology. This network includes papers that elaborate on various techniques and materials used in biosensing, such as paper electrode-based flexible pressure sensors (doi: 10.1021/acs.analchem.8b04635), photoelectrochemical bioanalysis (doi: 10.1016/j.bios.2019.02.067), and impedimetric aptasensors (doi: 10.1039/C4AN00523F).
The research opens gates for future work, heralding a possible transition toward more personalized and point-of-care diagnostics platforms. Its repercussions could stretch beyond the laboratory, impacting how rapid testing and monitoring are performed in fields such as veterinary medicine, food quality control, and biomedical research. The implications for pathogen detection, allergy testing, and clinical diagnostics are profound, potentially leading to real-time diagnostics and treatment.
In the dynamic world of biosensor technology, the work presented in this article galvanizes the scientific community to explore the vast potential of TMDCs in enhancing optical fiber SPR biosensors. This could set the stage for future innovations in ultra-sensitive and specific detection platforms, pioneering the next wave of biosensors that could accurately detect even the most elusive of biomolecules.
The study is pivotal to the pursuit of creating fast, reliable, and sensitive biosensing modalities that can serve mankind in various capacities. It reflects the accelerating pace of technological innovation within the biosensory domain and underscores the collaborative intersection of materials science, nanotechnology, optical engineering, and biotechnology.
This elucidation of the study’s outcomes showcases an advancement that is not only steeped in scientific rigor but also offers pragmatic applications that resound with the needs of the real world.
Keywords
1. Optical Fiber SPR Biosensor
2. Bovine Serum Albumin Detection
3. Transition Metal Dichalcogenides Biofunctionalization
4. Molybdenum Disulfide Nanotechnology
5. Label-Free Protein Sensing
References
1. Yu, Z., Tang, Y., Cai, G., Ren, R., & Tang, D. (2019). Paper Electrode-Based Flexible Pressure Sensor for Point-of-Care Immunoassay with Digital Multimeter. Analytical Chemistry, 91(3), 1222–1226. doi: 10.1021/acs.analchem.8b04635.
2. Zeng, R., et al. (2019). Photoelectrochemical bioanalysis of antibiotics on rGO-Bi2WO6-Au based on branched hybridization chain reaction. Biosensors and Bioelectronics, 133, 100–106. doi: 10.1016/j.bios.2019.02.067.
3. Tang, J., Lu, M., & Tang, D. (2014). Target-initiated impedimetric proximity ligation assay with DNAzyme design for in situ amplified biocatalytic precipitation. Analyst, 139(11), 2998–3001. doi: 10.1039/C4AN00523F.
4. Tang, J., Tang, D., Zhou, J., Yang, H., & Chen, G. (2012). Nuclease cleavage-assisted target recycling for signal amplification of free-label impedimetric aptasensors. Chemical Communications, 48(21), 2627–2629. doi: 10.1039/C2CC17536C.
5. Kaushik, S., Tiwari, U.K., Deep, A., & Sinha, R.K. (2019). Two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides assisted biofunctionalized optical fiber SPR biosensor for efficient and rapid detection of bovine serum albumin. Scientific Reports, 9, Article number: 6987. doi:10.1038/s41598-019-43531-w.