Detection of the tumor marker mucine with a diode-laser-based evanescent wave sensor

Optical sensors based on the utilization of the evanescent field arising at the interface between two media in the case of total internal reflection are an excellent tool for the reduction of time consuming and complex chemical analysis. We developed a fiber-optic based set-up with visible diode lasers as excitation sources. As recognition element an optical fiber covered with a photopolymerized antibody monolayer was used. Beside the commercially available cyanine fluorescent dye Cy 5, newly developed fluorescent dyes in the red spectral region were coupled to antibodies. In order to test the set-up in a clinically relevant system the antibodies BM-2 and BM-7 were chosen. With this antibody system the tumor marker mucine in a sandwich immunoassay was investigated. This protein shows increased concentrations in serum and ascites in the case of breast cancer. The combination of semiconductor devices and ultrathin antibody layers together with an antibody system directed against mucine offers the possibility of an on-line detection of the tumor marker.