Surface plasmon resonance sensing of a biomarker of Alzheimer disease in an intensity measurement mode with a bimetallic chip

Abstract

A surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensor system with a bimetallic chip has been utilized to sense the very low concentration of amyloid-beta (Aβ)(1-42) by measurement of the reflectance variation. The bimetallic chip was comprised of Au (10 nm) and Ag (40 nm) on Cr (2 nm)-coated BK-7 glass substrate. Protein A was used to efficiently immobilize the antibody of Aβ(1-42) on the surface of the bimetallic chip. The reflectance curve of the bimetallic chip represented a narrower linewidth compared to that of the conventional gold (Au) chip. The SPR sensor using the bimetallic chip in the intensity interrogation mode acquired the response of Aβ(1-42) at concentrations of 250, 500, 750 and 1,000 pg/ml. The calibration plot showed a linear relationship between the mean reflectance variation and the Aβ(1-42) concentration. The results proved that the SPR sensor system with the bimetallic chip in the intensity interrogation mode can successfully detect various concentrations of Aβ(1-42), including critical concentration, to help diagnose Alzheimer’s disease.