Resonant Cavity Optical Biosensors for the Detection of Nucleic Acid Hybridization

摘要

Optical microcavities can be used to enhance the detection sensitivity of evanescent-wave fluorescence biosensors to the binding of a labeled analyte to a biospecific monolayer. The enhancement results from the buildup of intensity within the microcavity on resonance, which thereby increases fluorescence output from species specifically bound on the surface of the microcavity. Target studies are directed at nucleic acid hybridization, and initial results using high-Q dielectric microspheres have been obtained.