An antenna-coupled split-ring resonator for biosensing

An antenna-coupled split-ring resonator-based microwave sensor is introduced for biosensing applications. The sensor comprises a metallic ring with a slit and integrated monopole antennas on top of a dielectric substrate. The backside of the substrate is attached to a metallic plate. Integrated antennas are used to excite the device and measure its electromagnetic characteristics. The resonant frequency of the device is measured as 2.12GHz. The characteristics of the device with dielectric loading at different locations across its surface are obtained experimentally. The results indicate that dielectric loading reduces the resonant frequency of the device, which is in good agreement with simulations. The shift in resonant frequency is employed as the sensor output for biomolecular experiments. The device is demonstrated as a resonant biomolecular sensor where the interactions between heparin and fibroblast growth factor 2 are probed. The sensitivity of the device is obtained as 3.7MHz/(mu g/ml) with respect to changes in concentration of heparin. (C) 2014 AIP Publishing LLC.