Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) allows real-time, label-free detection of biomolecular interactions.
SPR occurs when polarized light strikes an electrically conducting surface at the interface between two media. This generates electron charge density waves called plasmons, reducing the intensity of reflected light at a specific angle known as the resonance angle, in proportion to the mass on a sensor surface.
Biacore SPR systems are used primarily in pharmaceutical development, quality control, and basic life science research.
In Biacore assays, target molecules, most frequently proteins are immobilized on a prepared gold sensor surface and a sample containing a potential interacting partner in solution is injected over the surface through a series of flow cells.
During the course of the interaction, polarized light is directed toward the sensor surface and the angle of minimum intensity reflected light is detected. This angle changes as molecules bind and dissociate and the interaction profile is thus recorded in real time in a sensorgram.
