PRION PROTEIN DETECTION

摘要

An example embodiment of the invention includes a method of performing an assay comprising the steps of (1) providing a multimode waveguide; (2) fixing one or more fluidic cells to the multimode waveguide, wherein each of the one or more fluidic cells including a surface having a portion thereof sealed to the coated region, the surface including a depression therein defining a fluidic channel bounded at least in part by the optically exposed region, and a sample introduction port for the introduction of a fluid sample into the fluidic channel; (3) introducing a fluid sample into the fluidic channel via the sample introduction port so that the fluid sample physically contacts the optically exposed region; (4) launching light into the waveguide so as to produce a wave at the optically exposed region; and (5) detecting an optical signal generated at the optically exposed region in response to the wave, wherein the optical signal is correlated with the presence of a prion protein in the fluid sample. An example waveguide device comprises a multimode waveguide having a surface-bearing patterned reflective coating defining a reflectively coated region and an optically exposed region on the surface, wherein one or more first antibodies are covalently bonded to or non-covalently immobilized on the optically exposed region, and wherein the one or more first antibodies selectively binds a prion protein.