Optical cavity surface bioconjunction using lipid membranes for label free, ultrasensitive detection of biomolecules

A method of detecting specific biomolecules, comprising:

• providing a functionalized optical resonant cavity comprising a lipid membrane coating that is functionalized to capture a specific biomolecule;
• contacting a sample that comprises said specific biomolecule with said functionalized optical resonant cavity;
• providing a beam of light that is at least partially coupled into said functionalized optical resonant cavity before said contacting;
• detecting, before said contacting, an intensity of said beam of light for each of a plurality of wavelengths after said beam of light has passed said functionalized optical resonant cavity to obtain a first detected spectrum;
• providing a beam of light that is at least partially coupled into said functionalized optical resonant cavity after said contacting;
• detecting, after said contacting, an intensity of said beam of light for each of a plurality of wavelengths after said beam of light has passed said functionalized optical resonant cavity to obtain a second detected spectrum;
• and
• determining a presence of said specific biomolecule on said optical resonant cavity by comparing said first and said second detected spectra.

A method of functionalizing an optical resonant cavity for an optical system for detecting specific biomolecules, comprising:

• providing an optical resonant cavity;
• providing a plurality of lipid vesicles in a suspension;
• and
• contacting said suspension containing said plurality of lipid vesicles with said optical resonant cavity such that at least some of said lipid vesicles rupture and at least partially coat a surface of said optical resonant cavity.