Detection of MMP-8 via porous silicon microcavity devices functionalized with human antibodies

In this work we report on the fabrication of functionalized PSiMc scaffolds that can be used to enhance the detection of MMP-8. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are the major enzymes that degrade extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins and play a key role in diverse physiological and pathological processes. We are interested in detecting the collagenase-type MMP-8 that is an inflammatory marker in gingival fluid for predicting tooth movement during orthodontic treatment. As presence of an increasing amount of MMP-8 in saliva is directly related with the tooth movement during orthodontic treatment, monitoring continuously the MMP-8 variation is primordial. Porous silicon microcavity (PSiMc) structures were prepared as multilayered stacks of low and high refractive indices and with layer thicknesses in the order of visible light wavelength. Then the PSi surface was functionalized with human antibodies. Both functionalization and MMP-8 infiltration were monitored by specular reflectometry. PSiMc is characterized by a narrow resonance peak in the optical spectrum that is very sensitive to a small change in the refractive index, such as that obtained when a molecule is attached to the large internal surface of porous silicon. The pore dimensions of the used PSiMc structures were evaluated by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning electron microscope (SEM).