Ring-Resonator/Sol-Gel Interferometric Immunosensor

A proposed biosensing system would be based on a combination of (1) a sensing volume containing antibodies immobilized in a sol-gel matrix and (2) an optical interferometer having a ring resonator configuration. The antibodies would be specific to an antigen species that one seeks to detect. The binding of the antigens to the immobilized antibodies would change the index of refraction of the sensing volume, which would be mounted in one of the interferometer arms. The interferometer would measure the change in the index of refraction, thereby indirectly measuring the concentration of the antigen species of interest.