DNA thin film coated optical fiber biosensor

Abstract We present a simple but highly sensitive biotinylated DNA double crossover thin film coated fiber optic reflectance biosensor (DTF FORS) for the detection of streptavidin aerosols as a building block towards sensing bio-aerosols. The DNA double crossover lattice with biotin was dropped on the polymer optical fiber end face to prepare DNA Thin Film. The streptavidin aerosols were prepared using conventional aerosol technology. The DTF FORS response to streptavidin aerosol was few seconds and the sensor repeatability for air and streptavidin aerosol was found to be excellent. The presented FORS sensing approach, where the film can be changed on the end face of the optical fiber, is expected to detect atmospheric bio-aerosols with great sensitivity and effective specificity.