Application of fiber loop ringdown spectroscopy technique for a new approach to beta-amyloid monitoring for Alzheimer Disease’s early detection

Abstract

A novel fiber optic biosensor was purposed for a new approach to monitor amyloid beta protein fragment 1–42 (Aβ42) for Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) early detection. The sensor was fabricated by etching a part of fiber from single mode fiber loop in pure hydrofluoric acid solution and utilized as a Local Optical Refractometer (LOR) to monitor the change Aβ42 concentration in Artificial Cerebrospinal Fluid (ACSF). The Fiber Loop Ringdown Spectroscopy (FLRDS) technique is an ultra-sensitive measurement technique with low-cost, high sensitivity, real-time measurement, continuous measurement and portability features that was utilized with a fiber optic sensor for the first time for the detection of a biological signature in an ACSF environment. Here, the measurement is based on the total optical loss detection when specially fabricated sensor heads were immersed into ACSF solutions with and without different concentrations of Aβ42 biomarkers since the bulk refractive index change was performed. Baseline stability and the reference ring down times of the sensor head were measured in the air as 0.87% and 441.6 μs ± 3.9 μs, respectively. Afterward, the total optical loss of the system was measured when the sensor head was immersed in deionized water, ACSF solution, and ACSF solutions with Aβ42 in different concentrations. The lowest Aβ42 concentration of 2 ppm was detected by LOR. Results showed that LOR fabricated by single-mode fibers for FLRDS system design are promising candidates to be utilized as fiber optic biosensors after sensor head modification and have a high potential for early detection applications of not only AD but possibly also several fatal diseases such as diabetes and cancer.