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SPR, WGM & Nano-Sensors: Advantages and Prospects

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A special issue of Sensors (ISSN 1424-8220). This special issue belongs to the section "Physical Sensors".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 August 2016) | Viewed by 54313

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Special Issue Editor

Dr. Galina Nemova

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Guest Editor

Department of Engineering Physics, Polytechnique Montréal, Canada
Interests: SPR and WGM sensors; fiber Bragg grating sensors; long period grating sensors; refractive index and temperature sensors; nano-sensors; quantum dots
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Since the first demonstration of surface plasmon resonance (SPR), for the study of processes at the surfaces of metals, in 1980s, SPR sensors have become a central tool for a number of applications, such as environmental monitoring, food safety, detection of chemical, biological species, and so on.
A pioneering approach to the study of the resonances in a properly shaped dielectric sample was made by Richtmyer in 1939, when he showed that a spherical micro-particle could sustain high-Q resonance whispering gallery modes (WGM) propagating at the surface of the sample. More recently, WGM resonators have attracted increasing attention in view of the great potential in sensor applications, such as measurements of force and temperature, or, alternatively, gas and biosensing.
Materials frequently exhibit different properties at the nano-scale to those at the macro- or micro-scale. They can be used to construct novel and improved sensing devices; in particular, electrochemical sensors and biosensors.
This Special Issue aims to bring together review articles, original research papers, and short communications covering all aspects SPR and WGM sensors, as well as nano-sensors based on nano-particles, quantum dots (QD), and nano-wires, for chemical, physical, biological, and other applications. If you have suggestions that you would like to discuss beforehand, please feel free to contact us. We look forward to, and welcome your participation in, this Special Issue.

Dr. Galina Nemova
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sensors is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

SPR sensors
WGM sensors
nano-particle sensors
nano-wire sensors
temperature sensors
refractive index sensors
quantum dot (QD) technology for sensors
metamaterials for sensors
sensitive materials

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

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1829 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Resonance Frequency of Optical Microbubble Resonators: Direct Measurements and Mitigation of Fluctuations

by Alessandro Cosci, Simone Berneschi, Ambra Giannetti, Daniele Farnesi, Franco Cosi, Francesco Baldini, Gualtiero Nunzi Conti, Silvia Soria, Andrea Barucci, Giancarlo Righini and Stefano Pelli

Sensors 2016, 16(9), 1405; https://doi.org/10.3390/s16091405 - 31 Aug 2016

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 4355

Abstract

This work shows the improvements in the sensing capabilities and precision of an Optical Microbubble Resonator due to the introduction of an encaging poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) box. A frequency fluctuation parameter σ was defined as a score of resonance stability and was evaluated in the presence and absence of the encaging system and in the case of air- or water-filling of the cavity. Furthermore, the noise interference introduced by the peristaltic and the syringe pumping system was studied. The measurements showed a reduction of σ in the presence of the encaging PMMA box and when the syringe pump was used as flowing system. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue SPR, WGM & Nano-Sensors: Advantages and Prospects)

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2870 KiB

Open AccessArticle

An Optically-Transparent Aptamer-Based Detection System for Colon Cancer Applications Using Gold Nanoparticles Electrodeposited on Indium Tin Oxide

by Mojgan Ahmadzadeh-Raji, Ebrahim Ghafar-Zadeh and Ghasem Amoabediny

Sensors 2016, 16(7), 1071; https://doi.org/10.3390/s16071071 - 12 Jul 2016

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 6738

Abstract

In this paper, a label-free aptamer based detection system (apta-DS) was investigated for detecting colon cancer cells. For this purpose, we employed an aptamer specific to colon cancer cells like HCT116 expressing carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) on their surfaces. Capture aptamers were covalently immobilized on the surface of gold nanoparticles (GNPs) through self-assembly monolayer of 11-mercaptoundecanoic acid (11-MUA) activated with EDC (1-Ethyl-3-[3-dimethylaminopropyl]carbodiimide)/N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS). The cyclic voltammetry (CV) and chronopotentiometry (CP) methods were used for electrodeposition of GNPs on the surface of indium tin oxide (ITO). In this work, the CV method was also used to demonstrate the conjugation of GNPs and aptamers and identify the cancer cell capturing events. Additionally, Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM) confirmed the deposition of GNPs on ITO and the immobilization of aptamer on the apta-DS. The electrodeposited GNPs played the role of nanoprobes for cancer cell targeting without losing the optical transparency of the ITO substrate. A conventional optical microscope also verified the detection of captured cancer cells. Based on this study’s results relying on electrochemical and optical microscopic methods, the proposed apta-DS is reliable and high sensitive with a LOD equal to 6 cell/mL for colon cancer detection. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue SPR, WGM & Nano-Sensors: Advantages and Prospects)

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8676 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Microcantilever Displacement Measurement Using a Mechanically Modulated Optical Feedback Interferometer

by Francisco J. Azcona, Ajit Jha, Carlos Yáñez, Reza Atashkhooei and Santiago Royo

Sensors 2016, 16(7), 997; https://doi.org/10.3390/s16070997 - 29 Jun 2016

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 5482

Abstract

Microcantilever motion detection is a useful tool for the characterization of the physical, chemical and biological properties of materials. In the past, different approaches have been proposed and tested to enhance the behavior, size and simplicity of microcantilever motion detectors. In this paper, a new approach to measure microcantilever motion with nanometric resolution is presented. The proposed approach is based on the concept of mechanically-modulated optical feedback interferometry, a technique that has shown displacement measurement capabilities well within the nanometric scale and that, due to its size, compactness and low cost, may be a suitable choice for measuring nanometric motions in cantilever-like sensors. It will be shown that the sensor, in its current state of development, is capable of following a cantilever sinusoidal trajectory at different sets of frequencies ranging up to 200 Hz and peak to peak amplitudes up to

λ / 2

with experimental resolutions in the

λ / 100

range. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue SPR, WGM & Nano-Sensors: Advantages and Prospects)

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4110 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Molecular Spectrum Capture by Tuning the Chemical Potential of Graphene

by Yue Cheng, Jingjing Yang, Qiannan Lu, Hao Tang and Ming Huang

Sensors 2016, 16(6), 773; https://doi.org/10.3390/s16060773 - 27 May 2016

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 4848

Abstract

Due to its adjustable electronic properties and effective excitation of surface plasmons in the infrared and terahertz frequency range, research on graphene has attracted a great deal of attention. Here, we demonstrate that plasmon modes in graphene-coated dielectric nanowire (GNW) waveguides can be excited by a monolayer graphene ribbon. What is more the transverse resonant frequency spectrum of the GNW can be flexibly tuned by adjusting the chemical potential of graphene, and amplitude of the resonance peak varies linearly with the imaginary part of the analyte permittivity. As a consequence, the GNW works as a probe for capturing the molecular spectrum. Broadband sensing of toluene, ethanol and sulfurous anhydride thin layers is demonstrated by calculating the changes in spectral intensity of the propagating mode and the results show that the intensity spectra correspond exactly to the infrared spectra of these molecules. This may open an effective avenue to design sensors for detecting nanometric-size molecules in the terahertz and infrared regimes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue SPR, WGM & Nano-Sensors: Advantages and Prospects)

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2711 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sensitive Detection of Small Particles in Fluids Using Optical Fiber Tip with Dielectrophoresis

by Yi-Hsin Tai, Dao-Ming Chang, Ming-Yang Pan, Ding-Wei Huang and Pei-Kuen Wei

Sensors 2016, 16(3), 303; https://doi.org/10.3390/s16030303 - 27 Feb 2016

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 6351

Abstract

This work presents using a tapered fiber tip coated with thin metallic film to detect small particles in water with high sensitivity. When an AC voltage applied to the Ti/Al coated fiber tip and indium tin oxide (ITO) substrate, a gradient electric field at the fiber tip induced attractive/repulsive force to suspended small particles due to the frequency-dependent dielectrophoresis (DEP) effect. Such DEP force greatly enhanced the concentration of the small particles near the tip. The increase of the local concentration also increased the scattering of surface plasmon wave near the fiber tip. Combined both DEP effect and scattering optical near-field, we show the detection limit of the concentration for 1.36 μm polystyrene beads can be down to 1 particle/mL. The detection limit of the Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria was 20 CFU/mL. The fiber tip sensor takes advantages of ultrasmall volume, label-free and simple detection system. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue SPR, WGM & Nano-Sensors: Advantages and Prospects)

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Review

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6575 KiB

Open AccessReview

Biosensing by WGM Microspherical Resonators

by Giancarlo C. Righini and Silvia Soria

Sensors 2016, 16(6), 905; https://doi.org/10.3390/s16060905 - 17 Jun 2016

Cited by 105 | Viewed by 12965

Abstract

Whispering gallery mode (WGM) microresonators, thanks to their unique properties, have allowed researchers to achieve important results in both fundamental research and engineering applications. Among the various geometries, microspheres are the simplest 3D WGM resonators; the total optical loss in such resonators can be extremely low, and the resulting extraordinarily high Q values of 10⁸–10⁹ lead to high energy density, narrow resonant-wavelength lines and a lengthy cavity ringdown. They can also be coated in order to better control their properties or to increase their functionality. Their very high sensitivity to changes in the surrounding medium has been exploited for several sensing applications: protein adsorption, trace gas detection, impurity detection in liquids, structural health monitoring of composite materials, detection of electric fields, pressure sensing, and so on. In the present paper, after a general introduction to WGM resonators, attention is focused on spherical microresonators, either in bulk or in bubble format, to their fabrication, characterization and functionalization. The state of the art in the area of biosensing is presented, and the perspectives of further developments are discussed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue SPR, WGM & Nano-Sensors: Advantages and Prospects)

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2591 KiB

Open AccessReview

SPR and SPR Imaging: Recent Trends in Developing Nanodevices for Detection and Real-Time Monitoring of Biomolecular Events

by Mihaela Puiu and Camelia Bala

Sensors 2016, 16(6), 870; https://doi.org/10.3390/s16060870 - 14 Jun 2016

Cited by 127 | Viewed by 12886

Abstract

In this paper we review the underlying principles of the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) technique, particularly emphasizing its advantages along with its limitations regarding the ability to discriminate between the specific binding response and the interfering effects from biological samples. While SPR sensors were developed almost three decades, SPR detection is not yet able to reduce the time-consuming steps of the analysis, and is hardly amenable for miniaturized, portable platforms required in point-of-care (POC) testing. Recent advances in near-field optics have emerged, resulting in the development of SPR imaging (SPRi) as a powerful optical, label-free monitoring tool for multiplexed detection and monitoring of biomolecular events. The microarrays design of the SPRi chips incorporating various metallic nanostructures make these optofluidic devices more suitable for diagnosis and near-patient testing than the traditional SPR sensors. The latest developments indicate SPRi detection as being the most promising surface plasmon-based technique fulfilling the demands for implementation in lab-on-a-chip (LOC) technologies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue SPR, WGM & Nano-Sensors: Advantages and Prospects)

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