OFBioSens-MIP · Optical fibre biomimetic sensors based on Lossy Mode Resonances with Molecularly Imprinted Polymers

Optical fibre biomimetic sensors based on Lossy Mode Resonances with Molecularly Imprinted Polymers

Testosterone is a steroid hormone of the androgen group. It affects some physiological functions, especially those related to fertility. In addition, its known benefits to training and muscle building have put it on the International Olympic Committee's list of banned substances. It also migrates through the environment, reducing water quality and threatening environmental and human health along with other endocrine disruptors. Therefore, the detection and quantification of testosterone in organisms (urine) or in the environment (water) is a matter of great interest . Due to its size and chemical structure, it is a suitable molecule to be used as a target in molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) fabrication. The development of optical fibre testosterone sensors based on MIPs would potentially provide faster, more accurate and selective (in-situ) measurements using cheap sensors that can be easily processed and manufactured, hence it could be of great benefit in a number of fields. We aim to design, develop and fabricate highly sensitive and selective nanostructured optical fibre testosterone sensors based on lossy mode resonances (LMRs) and MIPs. The achievement of this goal would allow the use of these devices in fields like environmental and veterinary sciences or sports, in real applications such as detection of contaminants in water, anti-doping tests or illegal hormones in animals, but more importantly, would also demonstrate the generic concept and allow development of sensors for other analytes. The following specific objectives have been established: 1. To design and develop suitable MIP formulations for the detection of T whilst simultaneously supporting generation of LMRs. 2. To characterise and evaluate the properties of the MIPs with respect to their structure, orientation and physical and chemical stability. 3. To study and optimise different deposition methods to coat the OF device with the selected MIP in order to obtain a T sensor displaying strong LMRs. 4. To establish a collaboration to model the OF sensor to predict its features and the optimum configuration (as an aid to future design optimisation). 5. To study the sensors’ response to different concentrations of T in samples, evaluating its sensitivity, stability and selectivity. 6. To develop a small, light and low-cost system for the sensor in order to explore its commercial potential.

Data: CORDIS, © European Union