Title: Surface plasmon resonance biosensors for environmental analysis: general aspects and applications

Authors: Cristina Tortolini, Marco Frasconi, Massimo Di Fusco, Franco Mazzei

Addresses: Dipartimento di Chimica e Tecnologie del Farmaco, Sapienza Universita di Roma, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy. ' Dipartimento di Chimica e Tecnologie del Farmaco, Sapienza Universita di Roma, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy. ' Dipartimento di Chimica e Tecnologie del Farmaco, Sapienza Universita di Roma, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy; Dipartimento di Chimica, Sapienza Universita di Roma, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy. ' Dipartimento di Chimica e Tecnologie del Farmaco, Sapienza Universita di Roma, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy

Abstract: Interest in the development of Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) based biosensors for the detection and monitoring of analytes in several fields has been extensively developed in the last decade. Indeed, SPR-based biosensors demonstrate interesting potential for environmental applications, and a substantial number of studies have been reported for heavy metals, dioxins, pesticides, aromatic hydrocarbons, phenol, polychlorinated biphenyls and detection. This paper reviews the current state-of-art in SPR sensors and outlines important issues with regard to the development of high-sensitivity sensors, in particular for the detection of small biomolecules. Furthermore, the future prospects for SPR sensor technology, such as low cost of production, compact design, reusability and increased functionality (multiple analytes detection), are discussed.

Keywords: SPR sensors; surface plasmon resonance; immunosensors; aptasensors; pesticides; herbicides; toxins; heavy metals; biosensors; environmental analysis; analytes; biomolecules.

DOI: 10.1504/IJENVH.2010.037496

International Journal of Environment and Health, 2010 Vol.4 No.4, pp.305 - 322

Published online: 14 Dec 2010 *

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