In this work, we demonstrate the possibility to use optical fiber incorporating photowritten tilted fiber Bragg gratings (TFBG) as optical detection system for the real time monitoring of interfacial adsorption events and biological recognition. For this purpose, immobilization of cyclodextrin polymers onto the surface of optical fiber was envisioned through the layer-by-layer self-assembly method with the aim of developing sensing layers with well-defined host properties. To develop a biological sensor, amphiphilic dextran, acting as intermediate layer between the polyelectrolyte multilayer assembly and the biological probe, was immobilized though inclusion complex formation. The dextran layer exhibit a dual functionality: (i) it prevents non-specific proteins adsorption and (ii) it allows covalent immobilization of anti-bovine serum albumine through activation of the hydroxyl groups with 1,1’-carbonyl diimidazole. To verify the feasibility of our strategy, fluorescence microscopy was applied to evidence the effective inclusion of fluorescent macromolecular – flurorescein labelled dextran bearing adamantane as side-grafts – species within the cyclodextrin cavities present onto the optical fiber interface and at the last layer to prove the grafting of anti bovin serum albumin onto the amphiphilic dextran by a capture of fluorescein bovin serum albumin by the antibody layer. In a further step, it was demonstrated that the elaboration of the multilayer assembly can be monitored in real time using the TFBG sensor.
In-situ strain measurements in composites during fatigue testing using optical fiber Bragg gratings and a portable CCD detection system
