Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) is an optical-based, label-free detection technology for real-time monitoring of binding interactions between two or more molecules.  A wide range of molecules can be studied, from ions and fragments to proteins and viruses. This innovative technology is capable of providing biophysical data such as affinity, kinetics and thermodynamics, in addition to answering basic questions of binding specificity and concentration.

SPR-based analytical biosensors can be extremely powerful tools for the characterization of molecular interactions. The combination of three individual elements, the detector, the sensor surface and the sample delivery system are critical to the performance of the experiment.

Sample delivery to the sensor surface via a continuous flow microfluidic device yields the most accurate binding measurements. For reproducible sample delivery, the Sierra SPR-32 system utilizes proprietary Hydrodynamic Isolation™ (HI) technology. HI is a method for presenting small, yet highly discrete fluid volumes, to isolated locations on a two-dimensional surface contained within a flow cell under laminar flow. Location-specific fluid addressing within the flow cell is facilitated by combining components of hydrodynamic focusing with site-specific evacuation. The process does not require the use of physical barriers within the flow cell or mechanical valves to control the paths of fluid movement, thereby permitting high-throughput multiplexing or the construction of two-dimensional arrays with individually addressable detection spots.