6–10 Jul 2026
University of the Western Cape
Africa/Johannesburg timezone
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A comparative analysis of SPR signals in BSA-induced non-specific binding

7 Jul 2026, 17:20
1h 20m
Great Hall (University of the Western Cape)

Great Hall

University of the Western Cape

Poster Presentation Track C - Photonics Poster Session 1

Speaker

sipho Chauke (Council for Scientific and Industrial research (CSIR))

Description

Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) provides a label-free optical platform for the detection of biomolecular interactions. While highly sensitive, its accuracy can be compromised by non-specific binding, which introduces background interference and obscures target-specific signals, particularly on probe-functionalized surfaces. To address this challenge, the present study systematically investigated the efficacy of bovine serum albumin (BSA) as a surface-blocking agent on probe-functionalized SPR sensor chips designed for the detection of multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB)-associated genetic targets. The sensor surfaces were functionalized with thiolated DNA probes specific to MDR-TB mutations and subsequently exposed to varying concentrations of BSA (ranging from 0.02 to 0.8 mg/mL) to evaluate and optimize surface passivation and minimize non-specific adsorption. Controlled binding assays between the immobilized probes and complementary target sequences were performed and analyzed using a Kretschmann configuration SPR biosensing platform. This approach enabled a systematic assessment of the impact of BSA blocking on signal specificity, surface coverage, and overall biosensor performance. Analysis of the resonance angle shifts showed that BSA blocking reduced non-specific binding interactions and improved signal-to-noise ratios. These findings suggested that BSA can be an effective strategy for minimizing background noise in SPR-based assays for biomolecular detection.

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Author

sipho Chauke (Council for Scientific and Industrial research (CSIR))

Co-authors

Lebogang Thobakgale (CSIR Biophotonics Photonics Centre Council for Scientific and Industrial Research) Lungile Nomcebo Thwala (CSIR) Masixole Lugongolo (CSIR) Saturnin Ombinda-Lemboumba (CSIR) Sello Lebohang Manoto (CSIR)

Presentation materials

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