Intensity interrogation of surface plasmon resonance (IISPR) biosensors possesses the greatest sensitivity beyond other interrogations and is operated at a fixed incident angle to enable real-time analysis without time delay, so that it promises excellent performance in biological/chemical detection and SPR imaging systems. Here we provide a general model to describe its sensitivity based on Lorentz equation and unveil the relation between the sensitivity and the metal thickness. This model presents the dependency between sensitivity and metal thickness, and the optimal thickness of gold layers to maximize the sensitivity in our experiment is 53 nm that agrees well in both measurement and simulation. This general model can be further applied in other intensity-interrogation SPR configurations as a design rule for sensing and imaging applications.

© 2009 OSA

1. E. Gizeli and C. R. Lowe, “Immunosensors,” Curr. Opin. Biotechnol. 7(1), 66–71 (1996). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
2. J. M. McDonnell, “Surface plasmon resonance: towards an understanding of the mechanisms of biological molecular recognition,” Curr. Opin. Chem. Biol. 5(5), 572–577 (2001). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
3. H. Raether, Surface plasmons on smooth and rough surfaces and on gratings (Springer-Verlag, 1988).
4. J. Homola, S. S. Yee, and G. Gauglitz, “Surface plasmon resonance sensors: review,” Sensor Actuat, Biol. Chem. 54, 3–15 (1999). [CrossRef]
5. B. Ran and S. G. Lipson, “Comparison between sensitivities of phase and intensity detection in surface plasmon resonance,” Opt. Express 14(12), 5641–5650 (2006). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
6. T. Zacher and E. Wischerhoff, “Real-Time Two-Wavelength Surface Plasmon Resonance as a Tool for the Vertical Resolution of Binding Processes in Biosensing Hydrogels,” Langmuir 18(5), 1748–1759 (2002). [CrossRef]
7. V. Kanda, J. K. Kariuki, D. J. Harrison, and M. T. McDermott, “Label-Free Reading of Microarray-Based Immunoassays with Surface Plasmon Resonance Imaging,” Anal. Chem. 76(24), 7257–7262 (2004). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
8. K. F. Giebel, C. Bechinger, S. Herminghaus, M. Riedel, P. Leiderer, U. Weiland, and M. Bastmeyer, “Imaging of cell/substrate contacts of living cells with surface plasmon resonance microscopy,” Biophys. J. 76(1), 509–516 (1999). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
9. E. M. Yeatman, “Resolution and sensitivity in surface plasmon microscopy and sensing,” Biosens. Bioelectron. 11(6-7), 635–649 (1996). [CrossRef]
10. F. C. Chien and S. J. Chen, “A sensitivity comparison of optical biosensors based on four different surface plasmon resonance modes,” Biosens. Bioelectron. 20(3), 633–642 (2004). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
11. H. F. Chen, C. C. Gong, and T. J. Yen, “An innovative surface plasmon resonance biosensor with stationary light source and detection system capable of adjustable incident angles with large range,” (to be submitted).
12. E. Fontana, “Thickness optimization of metal films for the development of surface-plasmon-based sensors for nonabsorbing media,” Appl. Opt. 45(29), 7632–7642 (2006). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
13. J. S. Maier, S. A. Walker, S. Fantini, M. A. Franceschini, and E. Gratton, “Possible correlation between blood glucose concentration and the reduced scattering coefficient of tissues in the near infrared,” Opt. Lett. 19(24), 2062–2064 (1994). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Anal. Chem.

• V. Kanda, J. K. Kariuki, D. J. Harrison, and M. T. McDermott, “Label-Free Reading of Microarray-Based Immunoassays with Surface Plasmon Resonance Imaging,” Anal. Chem. 76(24), 7257–7262 (2004). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Appl. Opt.

• E. Fontana, “Thickness optimization of metal films for the development of surface-plasmon-based sensors for nonabsorbing media,” Appl. Opt. 45(29), 7632–7642 (2006). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Biophys. J.

• K. F. Giebel, C. Bechinger, S. Herminghaus, M. Riedel, P. Leiderer, U. Weiland, and M. Bastmeyer, “Imaging of cell/substrate contacts of living cells with surface plasmon resonance microscopy,” Biophys. J. 76(1), 509–516 (1999). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Biosens. Bioelectron.

• E. M. Yeatman, “Resolution and sensitivity in surface plasmon microscopy and sensing,” Biosens. Bioelectron. 11(6-7), 635–649 (1996). [CrossRef]
• F. C. Chien and S. J. Chen, “A sensitivity comparison of optical biosensors based on four different surface plasmon resonance modes,” Biosens. Bioelectron. 20(3), 633–642 (2004). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Curr. Opin. Biotechnol.

• E. Gizeli and C. R. Lowe, “Immunosensors,” Curr. Opin. Biotechnol. 7(1), 66–71 (1996). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Curr. Opin. Chem. Biol.

• J. M. McDonnell, “Surface plasmon resonance: towards an understanding of the mechanisms of biological molecular recognition,” Curr. Opin. Chem. Biol. 5(5), 572–577 (2001). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Langmuir

• T. Zacher and E. Wischerhoff, “Real-Time Two-Wavelength Surface Plasmon Resonance as a Tool for the Vertical Resolution of Binding Processes in Biosensing Hydrogels,” Langmuir 18(5), 1748–1759 (2002). [CrossRef]

Opt. Express

• B. Ran and S. G. Lipson, “Comparison between sensitivities of phase and intensity detection in surface plasmon resonance,” Opt. Express 14(12), 5641–5650 (2006). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Opt. Lett.

• J. S. Maier, S. A. Walker, S. Fantini, M. A. Franceschini, and E. Gratton, “Possible correlation between blood glucose concentration and the reduced scattering coefficient of tissues in the near infrared,” Opt. Lett. 19(24), 2062–2064 (1994). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Sensor Actuat, Biol. Chem.

• J. Homola, S. S. Yee, and G. Gauglitz, “Surface plasmon resonance sensors: review,” Sensor Actuat, Biol. Chem. 54, 3–15 (1999). [CrossRef]

Other

• H. Raether, Surface plasmons on smooth and rough surfaces and on gratings (Springer-Verlag, 1988).
• H. F. Chen, C. C. Gong, and T. J. Yen, “An innovative surface plasmon resonance biosensor with stationary light source and detection system capable of adjustable incident angles with large range,” (to be submitted).

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