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Diffractive Optics Technology – dot®

• Brings together two mature, well-understood technologies: grating-based light diffraction and immobilized capture surfaces
• Results in a sensitive and simple technique for the detection of molecular binding events without the use of fluorescent labels

Molecular Binding Events

• Capture molecules, such as antibodies, are immobilized in a specific pattern of lines on the surface of the prism-shaped dotLab Sensor
• When illuminated with a laser a strong diffraction pattern is produced
• The sensor surface forms the base of a low-volume flow cell
• When a flowing stream of biological sample is introduced into the sensor’s flow channel, target molecules bind to the patterned capture molecules, or assay spots. An antigen binding to a patterned antibody is a typical example.
• The illumination occurs through an optical prism meaning the laser beam does not pass through the bulk solution in the flow channel
• The interaction of the antigen to the antibody causes an increase in the diffraction signal intensity
• Subsequent release of the interacting species results in a measurable decrease in signal

The Wave Nature of Light

• Diffraction occurs because of the wave nature of light
• When coherent light strikes a non-random pattern of obstacles, the resulting constructive and destructive interference produces a diffraction image