The study and characterization of molecular interactions is essential to explore biomolecular structure-function relationships, and it aids our understanding of biological systems in life sciences. Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) biosensors analyze macromolecular interactions in real-time and label-free. They have proven to be a valuable tool for scientists in many disciplines including immunology, molecular biology, cell biology and biochemistry. Compared to conventional techniques, SPR biosensors speed up such investigations as drug development, immunoreagent quality control, cell adhesion studies and polymer- biomolecule interactions.
Listed below are some examples of biomolecular interactions which have been successfully studied using SPR:
- Peptide/protein - protein
- DNA/RNA - protein
- protein - cell
- receptor - cell
- protein - virus/phage
- carbohydrate - protein
- carbohydrate - cell
- liposome - protein
- artificial materials - biological matter
- drugs - protein
- drugs - DNA/RNA.
In addition to biomolecular interaction studies, SPR sensors can be used to quantify adsorption and desorption processes in non-biological systems or to follow the course of solid phase-based chemical reactions on the chip surface.