Novel Silicon Dioxide Sol−Gel Films for Potential Sensor Applications:  A Surface Plasmon Resonance Study

Abstract

Stable silicon dioxide (silica, SiO2) films on noble metals were synthesized using a novel sol−gel technique. Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) spectroscopy was used to compare the stability of silica films generated by this sol−gel technique with those deposited by using thermal evaporation, in the presence of PBS buffer. These films were later chemically functionalized with various reactive groups as a test for their versatility and usefulness in sensoric applications. A surface grating enclosed in a high-pressure and elevated temperature cell was used in the investigation of polymer brushes while SPR coupled with fluorescence detection schemes was used in the Kretschmann prism configuration to monitor DNA hybridization interactions.

From Self-Assembled Monolayers to Coatings: Advances in the Synthesis and Nanobio Applications of Polymer Brushes

“…Low fouling zwitterionic materials are classified as either polybetaines, containing a positive and negative charge on the same monomer unit, or polyampholytes, which contain a mixture of negatively and positively charged monomers. Typically quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) [160,161] or surface plasmon resonance (SPR) [162][163][164][165] using single and multicomponent solution is used for the detection of adsorbed proteins. In pursuit to minimize protein adsorption, Surman and coworkers [166] recently compared polymer brushes of poly[oligo(ethylene glycol)methyl ether methacrylate], poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA)), poly[N-(2-hydroxypropyl) methacrylamide] (PHPMA) and poly(carboxybetaine acrylamide) and their resistance to fouling when exposed to blood plasma, showing PHPMA had the best hemocompatibility with good stability, preserved for two years [167].…”

Aggregation model for the gelation of a sol starting from the processing conditions

“…Supercritical drying does not break the fine solid structure present in the wet gel, thus imparting aerogels with unique physical properties [2,3]. Because of their unique physical properties, aerogels have found applications in insulation, catalysts, sensors, fuel storage, Cherenkov detectors, lightweight optics, special effect optics, impedance matchers for transducers, energy absorbers, hypervelocity particle traps, ICs, and capacitors [2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13].…”

Mussel adhesive protein inspired coatings: a versatile method to fabricate silica films on various surfaces

“…[1][2][3][4][5] To prepare ultra-thin silica films on metal substrates, conventional deposition methods such as chemical vapour deposition 6 and physical vapour deposition [7][8][9] have mostly been used. Poor adhesion between silica and metal due to lack of chemical compatibility are major concerns in the metal processing and coating industries.…”