Protein recognition by a surface imprinted colloidal array

Abstract

A label-free and easy-to-prepare biosensor for the fast and naked-eye detection of proteins was developed in this study. A closely packed crystalline array was self-assembled in ethanol–water (1 : 1, v/v) from the surface imprinted silica (SIS) colloid for hemoglobin bovine (Hb). The reflection of the molecular imprinted colloidal array (MICA) red shifted by 23 nm in response to 1.0 mg mL⁻¹ of Hb at pH 7.0. Compared with the non-imprinted colloidal array (NICA), MICA has a higher selectivity towards the target protein, and can recognize the target protein via an “induced-fit” mechanism.