Novel dual-channel fiber-optic surface plasmon resonance sensors for biological monitoring

Most applications of fiber optic SPR sensors are designed to measure refractive index (RI) of biological sample by single channel, also the sensitivity and stability of the sensor system is easily affected by the unexpected effects from instrumentation and external environment conditions. In this study, we presented two dual-channel fiber optic SPR sensors based on flat-tip or tetra-taper tip structure with two SPR spectrum located on separate wavelengths that can be used for self-compensating RI measurements of more than one biological samples. The prototyped sensors were fabricated and laboratory characterized. The preliminary experimental results demonstrate the characteristic responses of both SPR wavelengths from two channels are independently correspond to the RI changes of the detected samples or the temperature characters of external environment. Both of these two designs could be extend practicable highly sensitive multi-channel sensor systems that will have extensive applications for biological monitoring.