Optical immune sensors for the monitoring protein substances in the air

The efficiency of work of optical immune sensors based on the photoluminesc ence (Ph) of porous silicon (PS) and the fibre optics in combination with t he enhanced chemical luminescence was examined during the monitoring of bio logical pollutants, produced during microbial synthesis of lysine, in the a ir inside and in the vicinity of a biotechnological plant. It was shown tha t the sensitivity of the analysis performed by the fibre optics sensor (5-2 0 mu g/l) was higher than the sensitivity of the analysis accomplished with the help of the sensor based on the Ph PS (100 mu g/l). The sensitivities of the proposed sensors were comparable with the sensitivity of the enzyme- linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. The Ph PS sensor is characterise d by fast and straightforward analysis, absence of any label, simplicity in operation, low costs of basic material and PS availability. (C) 2000 Elsev ier Science S.A. All rights reserved.