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ABSTRACT: "Label-free" biomolecule sensors for detection of inflammatory cardiovascular biomarker associated with vulnerable coronary vascular plaque rupture were designed and fabricated using micro- and nanotextured polystyrene (PS) polymer structures that functioned as sensing elements coupled with electronic measurement equipment. We demonstrated that scaling down the surface texturing from the micro- to the nanoscale enhances the amplitude of the measured detected signal strength. We believe that the nanoscale fiber morphology provides size-matched spaces for trapping and immobilizing the protein biomolecule, resulting in improved detection signal strength. We selected PS as the model system and demonstrated the detection of human serum C-reactive protein. We employed these findings in designing a platform "lab-on-a-chip" protein sensor. Comparative studies were performed on PS textured surfaces of two different surface features: a PS microsphere mat and an electrospun PS nanofiber matrix. FROM THE CLINICAL EDITOR: In this study, nanotechnology-based biosensors for vulnerable coronary vascular plaque rupture were designed and fabricated using micro- and nanotextured polystyrene polymer structures. The authors demonstrated that scaling down the surface texturing from the micro- to the nanoscale enhances the sensitivity of this detection method.
Nanomedicine: nanotechnology, biology, and medicine 03/2010; 6(5):642-50. · 5.44 Impact Factor
