CAREER: Porous Silicon Waveguides for Portable Nanoscale Biosensing Applications

ECCS-0746296范德比尔特大学的Sharon M.Weiss智力优势：这项职业计划的目标是展示在硅平台上对生物分子进行高灵敏度检测，以开发可靠、便携和具有成本效益的生物传感器。使用硅兼容处理技术的这种生物传感器的演示可能会给医学诊断带来革命性的变化。在这项工作中，多孔硅的光学性质被用于生物分子的检测。这些孔不仅提供了一种通过过滤不需要的物种来提高选择性的方法，而且它们的大表面积允许连接比在平面衬底上获得的更多的生物分子。多孔硅传感器的设计像波导一样，使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。当生物分子在波导中被捕获时，折射率的变化可以通过波导共振角的移动来测量。电场-生物分子相互作用与生物传感器性能关系的基础研究将引领先进的生物传感技术的发展。准确预测使用多孔介质增加的表面积如何提高设备性能，将在从生物传感器到太阳能电池和光学开关的多个研究领域具有重要价值。广泛的影响：开发一种可靠、灵敏、便携的生物传感器的需求强烈，这种传感器在医疗诊断、环境监测和国土安全方面的应用具有成本效益。这项拟议的研究为生物分子传感的突破性技术打开了大门，可以进入价值数十亿美元的生物技术行业。该计划的教育目标包括(1)开发一门强调纳米材料的光学性质的新课程；(2)为少数族裔学生提供暑期研究机会；(3)参加纳什维尔地区学校的实践推广活动；以及(4)努力保持这些领域的研究生和本科生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.