Ultrasonic agitation for surface plasmon resonance biosensors

To probe this interaction, simulations were used in tandem with experimental evaluation techniques, exposing the nanoparticles to high frequency, 2 MHz, radiation to assess the deformations caused to nanoparticles under large acoustic pressure fields. Furthermore, experimentally exposing the nanoparticles to lower frequency acoustic radiation, 20 kHz, allowed analysis of their ability to act as nucleation sites for acoustic cavitation events, which has many interesting applications.

Appraisal of the efficiency with which the acoustic streaming interaction and acoustic radiation force could be harnessed to encourage protein migration to a sensing surface was also examined using computational simulation and presented here.<br><br>Finally, the design and prototyping of ultrasonic devices that are easily integrable into biosensors is included. Ultrasonic transducers were created with resonance frequencies around 2 MHz so to encourage acoustic streaming events in the biosensing cells.

The acoustic streaming is the stimulus driving biological cells toward nanostructured sensing surfaces. Piezoelectric materials, fabrication, characterisation methods and possible applications are discussed. The behaviour and performance of the devices was investigated and predicted using virtual prototyping with computer simulations and these are verified experimentally.

Issues associated during the development are highlighted and discussed. To assist long term practical adoption, guidance for further experimentation and characterisation is also addressed.