Abstract

This study demonstrated a measurement approach for biomolecules at the picoliter scale, using a newly developed picoliter cuvette inside an optical fiber constructed via near-ultraviolet femtosecond laser drilling. The sensing capacity was estimated to be within 0.4–1.2 pL due to an optical path length of 3–5 microns, as measured by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The picoliter cuvette exhibited a change in the optical extinction spectrum after addition of biomolecules such as L-cysteine, in conjunction with a gold nanoparticle (GNP) dispersion solution, following a simple measurement configuration involving a small white light source and a compact spectrometer. A linear attenuation of the spectral dip near a wavelength of 520 nm was observed as the L-cysteine concentration was increased at 4 wt% of the GNP mass concentration. The measurement resolution of the concentration using the picoliter cuvette was evaluated at 0.125 mM. The experimental results showed the difference in aggregation processes caused by a different concentration of GNPs. Moreover, they revealed the ability of the picoliter cuvette to verify whether the concentration of GNPs in the liquid sample correspondingly determines homogeneous or inhomogeneous GNP aggregation, as supported by SEM observation and numerical calculations based on Mie theory.

Highlights

  • There has been a remarkable advancement in technologies capable of recognizing cells or DNA indicators for the diagnosis of specific tumors and cancers [1,2,3,4]

  • This paper investigated the feasibility of a picoliter cuvette inside an optical fiber to realize a new This biosensing measurementthe configuration involvescuvette the useinside of a liquid sample

  • Picoliter paper investigated feasibility ofthat a picoliter an optical fiberThe to realize a new biosensing measurement configuration that involves the use of a liquid sample

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Summary

Introduction

There has been a remarkable advancement in technologies capable of recognizing cells or DNA indicators for the diagnosis of specific tumors and cancers [1,2,3,4]. The significant technological progress of the extraction of sensing targets—cells or DNA—has made the measurement of their trace amounts achievable [5,6]. With spectrometry, the sensing targets can be measured using an extremely small sample volume, which is an approach worth taking in research and practical medical sites considering the amount of valuable samples that could be saved. For one-time measurement of a liquid sample with a small amount of the sensing targets, both the absolute amount of sample and the target’s concentration must be necessarily low. An absolute small space is required for holding the extremely small liquid sample during the spectroscopic measurement. The light utilized for the spectroscopic measurement must be irradiated to the liquid sample accurately, and the light transmitted or scattered

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