Reduced graphene oxide-based optical sensor for detecting specific protein

A sensitive and selective optical biosensor based on reduced graphene oxide (RGO), which uses the polarization-dependent absorption effect of graphene under total internal reflection, is reported for determination of rabbit IgG. RGO sheets with the thickness of about 8.1 nm are fabricated by high temperature reduction and used as a sensing film, because of its strong polarization dependent absorption. This RGO-based optical sensor shows a satisfactory response to rabbit IgG with a minimum concentration of 0.0625 μg/ml. As a contrast, commercial SPR apparatus is used to investigate rabbit IgG with a minimum concentration of 0.3125 μg/ml. Moreover, with antigen-antibody binding, this sensor can also achieve label-free and real-time detection. Taking into account these factors, the RGO-based optical sensor may be a potential candidate for biosensing.