Patent ID: 8114679
Filing Date: 2012-02-14
Classification: B82Y,G01N

Abstract:
1. An optical biosensing platform for the real-time detection of the occurrence of a binding event, the optical biosensing platform comprising: a nanocrystalline zinc oxide (nano-ZnO) substrate having a surface and being capable of emitting photoluminescence, said photoluminescence comprising an inherent photoluminescence signal consisting of two emission peaks, a first peak being within an ultraviolet (UV) region of an electromagnetic spectrum, and a second peak being within a visible region of the spectrum; and a surface modifier being capable of binding to a biomolecule, said modifier formed integral with at least a portion of the surface of the nano-ZnO substrate, said surface modifier being chosen for attaching a specific receptor, said receptor for allowing the binding of a particular target biomolecule; wherein when the surface modifier binds with a said biomolecule, a change is induced in the emission of the inherent photoluminescent properties of the nano-ZnO substrate, said change occurring in at least one of the group consisting of emission intensities, emission maxima shifts and peak proportionalities of the inherent photoluminescent properties of the nano-ZnO substrate thereby enabling the detection of a binding event.