Detection and quantification of biomolecular interactions with optical biosensors

Abstract

Optical biosensors have the potential for rapid detection and quantification of the interactions between a wide range of biomolecules and macromolecular complexes. A new biosensor system which incorporates a resonant mirror (RM) as the optical sensor is described, and the results obtained with it from a number of biomolecular interaction experiments are compared with those found using another system in which the sensor is based on the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) effect. Both sets of results are compared with those obtained using classical procedures. It is concluded that optical biosensor systems will in future probably provide the method of choice for studying biomolecular interactions.