Lecture Notes: Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) and Applications

Introduction to SPR

• Total Internal Reflection: Occurs when light angles increase beyond a critical point.
• Metal Film Introduction: Causes electron oscillation due to electromagnetic waves from light.
• Resonance and SPR Angle:
  • Matching of oscillation wavelengths with surface magnet wavelengths leads to resonance.
  • At specific angles, reflected light is absorbed, creating a sharp peak called SPR angle.
• Key Concepts:
  • Evanescent Wave: Energy wave trapped at the metal surface.
  • Surface Plasmon: Activated electrons on the surface.

Importance and Applications of SPR

• Sensitivity: Sensitive to boundary conditions and refractive index changes.
• Label-Free Detection: Allows real-time monitoring without the need for labels.
• Applications in Drug Screening:
  • Monitors drug binding speed and duration.
  • Combined with other methods for comprehensive analysis.

Research Directions

• Label-Free Techniques: Development of optical instrumentation to address clinical issues.
• Precision Drug Screening: Targeting cell surface receptors and addressing antimicrobial resistance.

Technological Improvements

• Optical Imaging Enhancements:
  • Replacing photodetectors with system cameras.
  • High throughput and spatial resolution improvements.
• Single Cell Analysis:
  • Resolves single-cell molecular interactions and 3D structures.

Applications in Cancer Research

• Receptor Targeting: Focus on EGFR receptors, which are cancer biomarkers.
• Binding Kinetics:
  • Measures drug-receptor interactions.
  • Provides insights into drug efficacy and resistance mechanisms.
• Tumor Progression Studies:
  • Quantifies cell movement and attachment properties.
  • Correlates tethering properties with cancer stages.

Wearable Devices and Monitoring

• Continuous Monitoring: Development of wearable devices for real-time health tracking.
• Power Solutions:
  • NFC and self-powered systems using body heat.
  • Electrical sensors for continuous glucose and ion monitoring.

Summary

• High sensitivity and versatility of SPR allow detailed cellular and molecular interaction studies.
• Applications span from drug screening to cancer diagnostics and real-time health monitoring.

Q&A Section

• EGFR Receptor: Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor, linked to cell growth and cancer development.