A single mode fibre-optic evanescent wave biosensor.

This paper reports experimental developments in the construction and operation of a single-mode fibre-optic evanescent wave biosensor using an exposed core silica single-mode fibre embedded in a silica block. The device was able to monitor the concentration of a blue dye, Procion Blue MX-G, in overlayers of various refractive indices. The practicality of such a biosensor has been demonstrated with a colorimetric enzyme assay system. Penicillin G in the 0-0.4 mM concentration range was monitored at 633 nm by the decoloration of the starch-iodine reagent when Bacillus cereus penicillinase was immobilized over the exposed core of the monomode fibre.