Fiber-optic-based immunosensors for haptens

A selective fiber-optic-based immunosensor for haptens is described and characterized. In order to construct a sensor for different analytes, a prescribed reaction protocol is followed and only the recognition element [F(ab′) antibody fragment] has to be changed. The dynamic range of this sensor is about two orders of magnitude and the detection limits are at least 25 nM (25-μ1 volume). By using steady-state fluorescence and classical ultra-high-vacuum surface analytical techniques, the effects of regeneration media, reaction and storage times and interferents on the sensor response were studied.