High Specificity Binding of Lectins to Carbohydrate-Functionalized Fiber Bragg Gratings: A New Model for Biosensing Applications

The functionalization of an etched fiber Bragg grating was realized using a carbohydrate-siloxane conjugate. No fluorescent probes were used. Concanavalin A bound with high specificity to the glucose biosensor, but not to the lactose functionalized fiber. Conversely, peanut agglutinin bound to the lactose sensor with high specificity over its glucose counterpart. Quasi-monolayer selective binding of the lectins to the fiber sensor was inferred based on a theoretical analysis of the observed changes in the refractive index. Our results open the way to the use of unlabeled carbohydrate-based sensors for the study of the human glycome.