Abstract: This document describes an optical sensor unit and a procedure for the specific detection and identification of biomolecules at high sensitivity in real fluids and tissue homogenates. High detection limits are reached by the combination of i) label-free integrated optical detection of molecular interactions, ii) the use of specific bioconstituents for sensitive detection and iii) planar optical transducer surfaces appropriately engineered for suppression of non-specific binding, internal referencing and calibration. Applications include the detection of prion proteins and identification of those biomolecules which non-covalently interact with surface immobilized prion proteins and are intrinsically involved in the cause of prion related disease.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
May 11, 1999
Date of Patent:
February 12, 2002
Assignee:
Centre Suisse d'Electronique et de Mictotechnique SA
Inventors:
Hans Sigrist, Hui Gao, Rino E. Kunz, Jürg Dübendorfer, Carsten Korth, Markus Moser, Bruno Oesch