A novel approach for simultaneous sensing of urea and glucose by SPR based optical fiber multianalyte sensor

A novel design is presented for the sensing of urea and glucose simultaneously by surface plasmon resonance (SPR) based optical fiber multianalyte sensor using gel entrapment technique in a fluid for biomedical applications. Sensing surfaces are prepared by coating of different metals and high index dielectric over-layers (silver and silicon in channel 1 and copper and tin-oxide in channel 2) over two small and well separated unclad portions of an optical fiber. Enzymes urease and glucose oxidase are immobilized over respective surfaces using gel entrapment method for the sensing of urea and glucose, respectively. Wavelength interrogation technique is used for the calibration of the sensor. The concentration of urea and glucose are selected in the range 0-180 mM and 0-260 mg dl(-1), respectively, to mimic the physiological range of urea and glucose in human blood. Mixed solutions of urea and glucose with varying concentrations are prepared in buffer solution for the calibration of the sensor. The resonance wavelengths are determined corresponding to two channels responding independently to the interaction of analytes in solution on sensing channels. It is observed that the resonance wavelengths in the case of both the sensing channels decrease with the increasing concentrations of urea and glucose in solutions. The sensor gives 8.51 nm and 13.04 nm total shifts in resonance wavelength for 0 mM to 180 mM urea and 0 mg dl(-1) to 260 mg dl(-1) glucose concentrations in a sample, respectively. The advantages of the present sensor are cascaded design with multiple sensing channels on a single platform, inexpensive, simultaneous sensing of two parameters, possibility of online monitoring and remote sensing.