Multiplex fiber optic biosensor and detection method by using the same

• US 9,464,986 B2
• Filed: 01/27/2014
• Issued: 10/11/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: National Chung Cheng University
• Original Assignee: National Chung Cheng University
• Inventors: Lin, Hisng-Ying, Chau, Lai-Kwan, Huang, Chen-Han, Liu, Yu-Chia
• Primary Examiner(s): Geisel, Kara E
• Assistant Examiner(s): MERLINO, AMANDA H
• Application Number:
  US14/164,935
• Publication Number:
  US 20150211993A1
• Time in Patent Office: 988 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/7793 Sensor comprising plural indicators
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/554 detecting the surface plasmon resonance of nanostructured metals, e.g. localised surface plasmon resonance
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/7703 using reagent-clad optical fibres or optical waveguides using measurement of total internal reflection or attenuated total reflection G01N21/552; optical fibres or waveguides per se G02B

Abstract

A multiplex fiber optic biosensor including an optical fiber, a plurality of noble metal nanoparticle layers, a plurality of light sources and a light source function generator is disclosed. The optical fiber includes a plurality of sensing regions which are unclad regions of the optical fiber so that the fiber core is exposed, wherein the noble metal nanoparticle layers are set in each sensing regions. The light sources emit light with different wavelengths, and the noble metal nanoparticle layers absorb the lights with different wavelengths, respectively. The light sources emit the lights in different timing sequences or different carrier frequencies, wherein when the lights propagate along the optical fiber in accordance with the different timing sequences or the different carrier frequencies, a detection unit detects particle plasmon resonance signals produced by interactions between the different noble metal nanoparticle layers and the corresponding analytes.

Claims

1. A multiplex fiber optic biosensor, comprising:

an optical fiber including a plurality of sensing regions, wherein the sensing regions are unclad regions of the optical fiber so that a fiber core of the optical fiber is exposed;

a plurality of noble metal nanoparticle layers being set in the sensing regions;

a plurality of light sources designed to emit lights with different wavelengths, and the noble metal nanoparticle layers absorbing the lights with different wavelengths, respectively, wherein each of the plurality of light sources corresponds to one of the sensing regions; and

a light source function generator designed to generate a function for enabling the plurality of light sources continuously emitting the lights with different carrier frequencies in accordance with the function;

wherein, when the lights propagate along the optical fiber in accordance with the different carrier frequencies, only one detector is used to detect particle plasmon resonance signals produced by interactions between the noble metal nanoparticle layers and corresponding analytes, wherein the light source function generator is electrically coupled to the detector and transmits the function to the detector, so as to analyze the particle plasmon resonance signals.

2. The multiplex fiber optic biosensor of claim 1, wherein the detector comprises:

a photodiode detecting the particle plasmon resonance signals;

a current amplifier electrically connected to the photodiode to amplify the particle plasmon resonance signals;

an analog/digital converter electrically connected to the current amplifier to transform the particle plasmon resonance signals into digital signals; and

a computer device electrically connected to the current amplifier to receive as well as analyze the particle plasmon resonance signals.

3. The multiplex fiber optic biosensor of claim 2, wherein the computer device receives the particle plasmon resonance signals by a universal serial bus (USB).

4. A multiplex fiber optic biosensor detection method, comprising the following steps:

providing an optical fiber and a plurality of noble metal nanoparticle layers, wherein the optical fiber comprises a plurality of sensing regions, and the sensing regions are unclad regions of the optical fiber so that a fiber core of the optical fiber is exposed, and the noble metal nanoparticle layers are set in the sensing regions;

providing a light source function generator and a plurality of light sources, wherein the light source function generator is designed to generate a function, so that the plurality of light sources continuously emit the lights with different carrier frequencies based on the function, and the noble metal nanoparticle layers absorb the lights with different wavelengths, respectively, wherein each of the plurality of light sources corresponds to one of the sensing regions; and

providing only one detector, wherein, when the lights propagate along the optical fiber in accordance with the different carrier frequencies, the detector is used to detect particle plasmon resonance signals produced by interactions between the noble metal nanoparticle layers and corresponding analytes, wherein the light source function generator is electrically coupled to the detector and transmits the function to the detector, so as to analyze the particle plasmon resonance signals.

5. The multiplex fiber optic biosensor detection method of claim 4, wherein the detector comprises:

a photodiode detecting the particle plasmon resonance signals;

a current amplifier electrically connected to the photodiode to amplify the particle plasmon resonance signals;

an analog/digital converter electrically connected to the current amplifier to transform the particle plasmon resonance signals into digital signals; and

a computer device electrically connected to the current amplifier to receive as well as analyze the particle plasmon resonance signals.

6. The multiplex fiber optic biosensor detection method of claim 5, wherein the computer device receives the particle plasmon resonance signals by a universal serial bus (USB).