Organized thin films of mesoporous silica are easily synthesized using established templated sol-gel synthesis procedures. Here we describe a sensor based on F-127 polyether templated silica films spin-coated on glass substrates. The first challenge was to avoid macroscopic film cracking through controlled calcining conditions. The films were then treated with 3-aminopropyl triethoxysilane to allow interfacial binding of biomolecular probes. Cyanine (Cy5)-labeled bovine serum albumin (BSA) protein was applied to the film as 5 mm diameter spots, covalently bound, and the non-coated regions blocked. The film was exposed to fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-labeled BSA antibody solution. The concentrations of both fluorescent protein and antibody were varied to find detection limits. The quality and quantity of BSA / anti-BSA binding to the porous film was compared to that on 3-aminopropyl triethoxysilane-coated glass.  Ultimately, the sensitivity of the biosensing event will be compared with label-free sensing based on surface optical wave shifts.

Fluorescence microscopy comparison of labeled protein/antibody on mesoporous and nonporous surfaces

241st National Meeting (2011)

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