Biomolecule Sensor Based on Azlactone-Modified Hydrogel Films

A 3D hydrogel layer is probed by combining surface plasmon resonance with optical waveguide spectroscopy to detect biomolecules. A template terpolymer P(DMAAm-co-DMIAAm-co-VDMA) is synthesized via reversible addition-fragmentation chain-transfer polymerization. The terpolymer is then modified with an amino group bearing biotin to enable biomolecular recognition for streptavidin. A hydrogel thin layer is prepared onto a gold surface after spin-coating and photo-crosslinking of the modified polymer. Finally, the hydrogel is utilized to quantitatively detect streptavidin by using surface plasmon resonance–optical waveguide spectroscopy measurements.