What is Surface Plasmon Resonance?
Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) is an optical effect that can be utilized to measure the binding of molecules in real-time without the use of labels. SPR instruments are primarily used to measure the binding kinetics and affinity of molecular interactions. SPR can be used, for example, to measure the binding between two proteins, a protein and an antibody, DNA and a protein, and many more. It helps researchers determine which molecules interact, why they interact, and how strongly they interact.
Why Surface Plasmon Resonance?
Surface plasmon resonance has become the golden standard for providing optimal quality kinetics, real time interaction data, and label-free analysis for a wide variety of applications. Ever since the inception of surface plasmon resonance, for more than two decades, it has becoming increasingly more affordable and accessible to researchers than ever before. One of the notable benefits of surface plasmon resonance is the value that SPR data can add to one’s research.
How Surface Plasmon Resonance Works
The sensor chip is a gold film coated on a glass substrate that has been chemically modified to make it easier to immobilize one of the binding partners onto the surface of the sensor. The molecule that is immobilized is known as the ligand, and the molecule in solution is known as the analyte. The sensor chip is interface with the fluidic system through the use of a small flow cell, so that the analyte can be injected at different concentrations in a very repeatable manner.
Difference Between SPR and LSPR
LSPR instruments utilize a broad band white light source such as an LED to illuminate the nanoparticle sensor substrate. A spectrometer serves as the detector and can be placed in either a transmission or reflection arrangement. The spectrometer provides a reading of the absorbance spectrum of the sensor substrate. The nanoparticle substrates have a characteristic absorbance peak in the visible spectrum due to the LSPR effect.
Discover OpenSPR
OpenSPR is a next generation surface plasmon resonance solution that is easy-to-use, cost effective and low maintenance. It is designed for the individual researcher. With our surface plasmon resonance solution, in just minutes you can get affinity, kinetics and specificity for proteins, peptides, antibodies, DNA, RNA, and small molecules. Work from the comfort of your own bench and focus on what really matters – your research.
Make your next scientific breakthrough with SPR
Are you looking to obtain affinity and kinetics data for your next publication? To help you get started, we’ve gathered our expertise on this information-rich technique into a handy eBook.