Chemical sensors based on controlled-release polymer systems.

A novel chemical sensor has been developed in which the polymer ethylene-vinyl acetate is used as a controlled-release system to deliver reagents to the sensing region of an optical fiber for a homogeneous competitive immunoassay based on fluorescence energy transfer. A competition reaction is used to enable continuous measurements of the solution antigen concentration. More generally, the technique allows irreversible indicating chemistries to be used in the construction of chemical sensors that can measure continuously for long periods. Although the sensor configuration has not been optimized in all respects, data are presented for a model system in which a fluorescein-labeled antibody and Texas Red-labeled immunoglobulin G (IgG) are used.