CAREER: Porous Silicon Waveguides for Portable Nanoscale Biosensing Applications

ECCS-0746296Sharon M.韦斯，范德比尔特大学智力优点：这个职业生涯的建议的目的是证明高灵敏度检测生物分子的硅平台上的可靠，便携式和成本效益的生物传感器的发展。使用硅兼容处理技术的这种生物传感器的演示可能会彻底改变医学诊断。在这项工作中，多孔硅的光学特性被用于生物分子的检测。孔不仅提供了通过过滤不需要的物质来提高选择性的手段，而且它们的大表面积允许附着比在平面基底上可获得的更多的生物分子。 多孔硅传感器作为波导的设计使得大部分电场能够与生物分子相互作用，从而实现高灵敏度的检测。当生物分子被捕获在波导中时，折射率变化可以通过波导谐振角的偏移来测量。电场-生物分子相互作用对生物传感器性能影响的基础研究将为先进的生物传感技术的发展奠定基础。准确预测如何增加表面积从使用多孔介质可以提高设备的性能将是有价值的几个领域的研究，从生物传感器到太阳能电池和opticalswitch.Broader影响：有一个强大的需求，为开发一个可靠的，灵敏的，便携式的生物传感器，是成本效益的应用在医疗诊断，环境监测和国土安全。这项拟议中的研究为生物分子传感的突破性技术打开了大门，该技术可以进入数十亿美元的生物技术产业。该方案的教育目标包括：（1）开发一门强调纳米材料光学特性的新课程;（2）为少数民族学生提供暑期研究机会;（3）参与纳什维尔地区学校的实践推广活动;以及（4）努力维持这些领域的研究生和本科生妇女对物理和工程的兴趣。

ECCS-0746296Sharon M. Weiss, Vanderbilt UniversityIntellectual Merits: The objective of this CAREER proposal is to demonstrate high sensitivity detection of biomolecules on a silicon platform for the development of reliable, portable, and cost-effective biosensors. The demonstration of such a biosensor using silicon-compatible processing techniques could revolutionize medical diagnostics. In this work, the optical properties of porous silicon are utilized for the detection of biomolecules. The pores not only provide a means of improving selectivity by filtering unwanted species, but their large surface area allows the attachment of more biomolecules than is attainable on planar substrates. The design of the porous silicon sensor as a waveguide enables the majority of the electric field to interact with the biomolecules, resulting in highly sensitive detection. When biomolecules are captured in the waveguide, the refractive index change can be measured by a shift in the waveguide resonance angle. Fundamental studies on how electric field-biomolecule interaction relates to biosensor performance will lead to advanced biosensing technology. Accurate predictions of how increased surface area from the use of porous media can enhance device performance will be valuable across several fields of research from biosensors to solar cells and optical switches.Broader Impacts: There is a strong demand for the development of a reliable, sensitive, portable biosensor that is cost-effective for applications in medical diagnostics, environmental monitoring, and homeland security. The proposed research opens the door to breakthrough technology for biomolecular sensing that can tap into the multibillion dollar biotechnology industry. The educational goals of this program include (1) developing a new course highlighting optical properties of nanomaterials; (2) offering summer research opportunities for minority students; (3) participation in hands-on outreach activities at Nashville area schools; and (4) working to sustain interest in physics and engineering for graduate and undergraduate women in these fields.