Demonstration of a reusable plasmonic polymer microarray sensing platform

High throughput plasmonic sensors are a popular research field, standard surface plasmon resonance (SPR) instruments can achieve high throughput only in imaging configuration. This leads to consideration of pattern substrates and isolated nanoparticle arrays, both of which have some disadvantages. Spot functionalisation relies upon mask or pin printing to accomplish density, and this increase the complexity of use and standard operating procedures. Both patterned and nanoparticle arrays assay platforms are also commonly single use, unlike some SPR imaging and multi channel angular sensing SPR approaches. The microarray format proposed here is intended for multiple usages and regenerated, with a simple optical readout method. A plasmonic polymer of exquisite refractive index sensitivity and incorporate glass-like physical and mechanical stability provides the sensing element to the platform. Further, the standard sol-gel chemistry is well understood and amenable to easy covalent functionalisation as well as matrix methods such as nitrocellulose for biomolecule fictionalization. Two forms of polymer templating have been developed. For spots greater than 700μm a double side tape method can be applied and for sub 700μm patterned SU-8 and 100nm Aluminum reflective layer allow greater spot resolution. Proof of concept through refractive index sensing is demonstrated.