AN#178 MP-SPR for Continuous and Label-Free Small Molecule Monitoring Using Micrometer-Thick Hydrogels
Application Note #178
Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) has long been used for label-free detection of molecular interactions, especially at surfaces. However, when applied to soft and thick materials such as hydrogels or functional polymer films, traditional SPR alone may not fully capture changes occurring deeper within the material. This is where the waveguiding effect becomes a powerful asset in plasmonic biosensing. This application note describes how MP-SPR featuring waveguide detection enables sensitive and real-time characterization of a novel aptamer-crosslinked hydrogel (aptagel) designed for continuous monitoring of the antibiotic vancomycin.