Open Access
Sensitivity enhancement of a lossy mode resonance immunosensor using gold-nanoparticles for the detection of vascular endothelial growth factor protein
(Elsevier, 2026-01-01) Benítez Pérez, Melanys; Matías Maestro, Ignacio; Zubiate Orzanco, Pablo; Ezquerro, Sukayna; Azuaje-Hualde, Enrique; Catalán-Carrió, Raquel; Nazar, Franco Nicolás; Socorro Leránoz, Abián Bentor; Alonso, Concepcion; Benito-Lopez, Fernando; Besabe-Desmonts, Lourdes; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoa eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritza; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC; Universidad Pública de Navarra / Nafarroako Unibertsitate Publikoa
While the transition from optical fiber to planar waveguide substrates in LMR-based sensors has allowed for the development of more robust, cost-effective, and easily manufactured platforms, it has also presented challenges in optimizing critical sensor parameters such as resolution and sensitivity in biosensing. In this work, we introduce the application of gold nanoparticles (AuNP) to enhance the sensitivity of a Lossy Mode Resonance (LMR)-based biosensor for the detection of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) protein. The sensor was developed by depositing a nanometric TiO2 film on a planar waveguide, and its performance was assessed using three detection approaches: label-free, sandwich assay, and AuNP-labeled sandwich assay. The integration of AuNP significantly improved sensitivity, enabling detection at concentrations as low as 0.1 ng mL− 1 , surpassing the sensitivity of traditional label-free LMR-based sensors. These results demonstrate the potential of AuNPenhanced LMR sensors for detecting low concentrations of biomarkers with high specificity and sensitivity, positioning them as promising tools for biosensing applications.
Embargo
Desarrollo de plataformas fotónicas sensoras para la detección de biomarcadores
(2025) Benítez Pérez, Melanys; Matías Maestro, Ignacio; Socorro Leránoz, Abián Bentor; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación; Ingeniaritza Elektriko eta Elektronikoaren eta Komunikazio Ingeniaritzaren; Universidad Pública de Navarra / Nafarroako Unibertsitate Publikoa
Esta tesis ha contribuido al desarrollo de biosensores basados en Resonancias de Modos con Pérdidas (Lossy Mode Resonance, LMR) al proponer la transición en el uso de fibra óptica a sustratos planos, destacando su simplicidad, bajo coste y gran versatilidad. Se presenta el desarrollo de una plataforma microfluídica basada en LMR en guía de onda plana y su aplicación en la detección de biomarcadores como anti-IgG, gliadina, antigliadina, VEGF e IL-6. Se comprueba el desempeño de los biosensores al utilizar tres estructuras de nanorecubrimientos—TiO₂, SiO₂+TiO₂ y Au+TiO₂—las cuales han probado su utilidad en la generación de LMRs y en la mejora de sus propiedades. Se emplean nanopartículas de oro, por primera vez, para amplificar la señal de los LMRs, logrando una mejora significativa en la sensibilidad. Los resultados obtenidos demuestran la versatilidad y eficacia del sistema propuesto y confirman que la plataforma microfluídica y el diseño basado en sustratos planos constituyen una base sólida para el desarrollo de dispositivos LMR adaptables a una amplia variedad de aplicaciones en áreas como la medicina, la biotecnología o la industria alimentaria.
Open Access
Lossy mode resonance based microfluidic platform developed on planar waveguide for biosensing applications
(MDPI, 2022) Benítez Pérez, Melanys; Zubiate Orzanco, Pablo; Del Villar, Ignacio; Socorro Leránoz, Abián Bentor; Matías Maestro, Ignacio; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoaren eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritzaren; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC; Universidad Pública de Navarra / Nafarroako Unibertsitate Publikoa
The development of resonance phenomena-based optical biosensors has gained relevance in recent years due to the excellent optical fiber properties and progress in the research on materials and techniques that allow resonance generation. However, for lossy mode resonance (LMR)-based sensors, the optical fiber presents disadvantages, such as the need for splicing the sensor head and the complex polarization control. To avoid these issues, planar waveguides such as coverslips are easier to handle, cost-effective, and more robust structures. In this work, a microfluidic LMR-based planar waveguide platform was proposed, and its use for biosensing applications was evaluated by detecting anti-immunoglobulin G (anti-IgG). In order to generate the wavelength resonance, the sensor surface was coated with a titanium dioxide (TiO2) thin-film. IgG antibodies were immobilized by covalent binding, and the detection assay was carried out by injecting anti-IgG in PBS buffer solutions from 5 to 20 μg/mL. The LMR wavelength shifted to higher values when increasing the analyte concentration, which means that the proposed system was able to detect the IgG/anti-IgG binding. The calibration curve was built from the experimental data obtained in three repetitions of the assay. In this way, a prototype of an LMR-based biosensing microfluidic platform developed on planar substrates was obtained for the first time
Open Access
Lossy mode resonance-based optical immunosensor towards detecting gliadin in aqueous solutions
(Elsevier, 2023) Benítez Pérez, Melanys; Zubiate Orzanco, Pablo; Socorro Leránoz, Abián Bentor; Matías Maestro, Ignacio; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoaren eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritzaren; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC; Universidad Pública de Navarra / Nafarroako Unibertsitate Publikoa
The development of accurate, intuitive, and easy-to-handle devices to detect different types of allergens is on the rise, as these are useful tools to guarantee consumer safety, which should be a priority for any food industry. Gliadin, one of the main proteins present in gluten, is the one responsible for triggering the immune system to produce autoantibodies in celiac disease, the most dangerous pathology related to gluten. Lossy Mode Resonance (LMR) based biosensors are lately known as a promising sensing technology and its implementation on planar waveguides has been shown to result in manageable, sustainable and robust structures. In this work, an LMR based microfluidic biosensor for gliadin detection is proposed, by coating a coverslip with Titanium Dioxide (TiO2) by Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) to generate the resonance phenomena and functionalizing the sensor surface with anti-gliadin antibody (AGA) through covalent bond. The sensor was exposed to different gliadin concentrations in ultrapure water, in the range of 0.1–100 ppm with an accuracy of ±0.14 ppm, for a sensitivity of 1.35 ppm/ml. The calibration curve was obtained from the experimental data corresponding to three repetitions of the assay and a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.05 ppm was achieved. Moreover, the sensor was exposed to commercial flour samples, some of them labeled as gluten free (GF) and the response agreed with the expected results according to product label. Biosensor specificity to gliadin was demonstrated by injecting chicken egg white albumin without obtaining any significant response.

Benítez Pérez, Melanys

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