Optimizing Plasmonic Microarray Biosensors: Custom Optical System for Enhanced Evaluation and Characterization

Abstract

This paper presents the design and implementation of a tailored optical system for rapid characterization of transmission-based localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) biosensors. The system incorporates a motorized monochromator, offering extreme versatility in experimenting with wavelength resolution and bandwidth of the illumination. This setup streamlines the process of determining optimal chip design parameters such as the density of nanoparticles and the number of detection wavelengths required, as measurements are fully automated and software-driven. Furthermore, the system facilitates straightforward detection of manufacturing errors, including misaligned spots or inhomogeneous particle distribution, enhancing overall efficiency and reliability in biosensor evaluation.