IDBR: A label-free biomolecular sensing instrument based on monolithic optical resonators and an optoelectronic swept-frequency semiconductor laser

项目AbstractThis项目提出了开发和示范的基础上集成的电子控制的线性扫频半导体激光器，高品质因数（Q）的光学谐振腔与共价表面功能化，和微流体细胞分析物的传递的无标记传感仪器。它将解决目前阻碍这项技术成为一种可获得的、负担得起的和有用的工具的一些关键问题。这些努力将使光腔传感平台发展到一个点，在这个点上，它是鲁棒的和可重复的，并且提供比任何可用的替代生物分子测定仪器至少好一个数量级的灵敏度和成本效益。所提出的系统将联合收割机结合光学和激光物理学领域的两个主要最近发展的结果：高Q光学谐振腔和锁相电控扫频半导体激光器。高Q光学谐振器是具有集成光波导的单片单元的一部分，并且使用基于标准半导体光刻的方法制造。光电扫频激光器将在与水感测相关的波长处开发，并将取代昂贵且脆弱的机械调谐激光源，其频率扫描具有有限的速度、准确性和可靠性。谐振器将使用已知的技术进行功能化，提供可适应的和选择性的表面化学。该传感器将包括一个集成的微流体流动池，用于精确和低容量的分析物传递到谐振器surfaces.The拟议的仪器代表了一个适应性强，成本效益高的平台，能够进行各种敏感的，无标记的测量相关的生物物理学，生物分子相互作用，细胞信号，和广泛的其他生命科学领域的研究。它将能够进行结合分析、热力学和动力学测量，并有可能通过整合到现有仪器中以取代灵敏度较低的分析方法而产生额外的影响。该传感器还具有潜在的应用在即时医疗诊断，在那里它可以使相关抗原的早期检测。该项目本质上是多学科的，并将发展专业知识和更好地理解这些不同领域之间的相互作用，如半导体激光器，光学纳米纤维，高速电子，控制系统，光纤，微流体，生物分子结合测定，质量转移，和综合仪器设计。它为两名研究生和一名本科生提供了在PI的密切指导下参与合作研究的机会，教育学生科学发现的文化，以及工程和应用方面的考虑。项目实施过程中取得的成果将在主要科学期刊和会议上发表。

Project AbstractThis project proposes the development and demonstration of a label-free sensing instrument based on the integration of an electronically controlled linear swept-frequency semiconductor laser, a high quality factor (Q) optical resonator with covalent surface functionalization, and a microfluidic cell for analyte delivery. It will address a number of key issues that currently prevent this technology from becoming an accessible, affordable, and useful tool. These efforts will develop the optical cavity sensing platform to a point where it is robust and repeatable, and provides sensitivity and cost-effectiveness that are at least an order of magnitude better than any available alternative biomolecular assay instrument.The proposed system will combine the results of two major recent developments in the field of optical and laser physics: the high-Q optical resonator and the phase-locked electronically controlled swept-frequency semiconductor laser. The high-Q optical resonator is part of a monolithic unit with an integrated optical waveguide, and is fabricated using standard semiconductor lithography-based methods. Optoelectronic swept frequency lasers will be developed at wavelengths relevant for aqueous sensing, and will replace expensive and fragile mechanically-tuned laser sources whose frequency sweeps have limited speed, accuracy and reliability. The resonator will be functionalized using known techniques providing an adaptable and selective surface chemistry. The sensor will include an integrated microfluidic flow cell for precise and low volume delivery of analytes to the resonator surface.The proposed instrument represents an adaptable and cost-effective platform capable of various sensitive, label-free measurements relevant to the study of biophysics, biomolecular interactions, cell signaling, and a wide range of other life science fields. It will be capable of binding assays, thermodynamic and kinetics measurements, and has the potential for additional impact through integration into existing instruments to replace less sensitive analytical methods. The sensor also has potential applications in point-of-care medical diagnostics, where it can enable early detection of relevant antigens.The project is inherently multidisciplinary and will develop expertise in and better understanding of the interplay between such diverse fields as semiconductor lasers, optical nanofabrication, high speed electronics, control systems, fiber-optics, microfluidics, biomolecular binding assays, mass transfer, and integrated instrument design. It affords the opportunity for two graduate students and an undergraduate student to take part in a collaborative research effort under the close guidance of the PIs, educating the students in the culture of scientific discovery, alongside engineering and application considerations. The results obtained during the course of the project will be published in leading scientific journals and conferences.