Portable 24-analyte surface plasmon resonance instruments for rapid, versatile biodetection.

Field use of surface plasmon resonance (SPR) biosensors for environmental and defense applications such as detection and identification of biological warfare agents has been hampered by lack of rugged, portable, high-performance instrumentation. To meet this need, we have developed compact multi-analyte SPR instruments based on Texas Instruments' Spreeta sensing chips. The instruments weigh 3 kg and are built into clamshell enclosures measuring 28 cm x 22 cm x 13 cm. Functions are divided between an electronics unit in the base of the box and a fluidics assembly in the lid. Automated valves and pumps implement an injection loop flow system that allows sensors to be exposed to sample, rinsed, and treated with additional reagents (such as secondary antibodies) under computer control. Injected samples flow over the surfaces of eight sensor chips fastened into a temperature-controlled silicone flowcell. Each chip has 3 sensing regions, for a total detection of 24 areas that can be simultaneously monitored by SPR. Coating these areas with appropriate antibodies or other receptors allows a sample to be screened for up to 24 different substances simultaneously. The instruments report refractive index (RI) values every second, with a typical noise level of 1-3 x 10(-6) RI units. The design of the device is described, and performance is illustrated with detection of six distinct analytes ranging from small molecules to whole microbes during the course of a single experiment.

Compact, high performance surface plasmon resonance imaging system.

We report the construction and characterization of a new compact surface plasmon resonance imaging instrument. Surface plasmon resonance imaging is a versatile technique for detection, quantification and visualization of biomolecular binding events which have spatial structure. The imager uses a folded light path, wide-field optics and a tilted detector to implement a high performance optical system in a volume 7 in. x 4 in. x 2 in. A bright diode light source and an image detector with fast frame rate and integrated digital signal processor enable real-time averaging of multiple images for improved signal-to-noise ratio. Operating angle of the imager is adjusted by linear translation of the light source. Imager performance is illustrated using resolution test targets, refractive index test solutions, and competition assays for the antiepileptic drug phenytoin. Microfluidic flowcells are used to enable simultaneous assay of three sample streams. Noise level of refractive index measurements was found to decrease proportional to the square root of the number of pixels averaged, reaching approximately 5 x 10(-7) refractive index units root-mean-square for 160 x 120 pixels image regions imaged for 1s. The simple, compact construction and high performance of the imager will allow the device to be readily applied to a wide range of applications.