On-chip dielectric micro/nano structures for Mid-IR and Raman Spectroscopic signal enhancement for biomarker diagnostics

迫切需要能够从患者床边和医生的手术中快速产生结果的诊断工具。快速、准确的结果将允许快速做出治疗决定，并以更低的成本拯救生命。相比之下，现有技术需要将样品转移到中心位置的实验室，这些实验室配备了先进的仪器和高技能的人员。中红外光谱和拉曼光谱已被独立地证明是特定生物标志物的强大生物诊断工具，然而，将这两种技术的优势结合在单一芯片上将更有效地利用它们在识别疾病生物标志物方面的互补性。本项目的总体目标是利用先进材料开发ATR/拉曼芯片，并将该芯片应用于新生儿呼吸窘迫综合征(NRDS)的诊断原理论证。具体地说，该项目将涉及这些芯片的计算建模和设计，包括使用共振结构的信号增强特征。随后将在我们的洁净室中制造基于硅和塑料等材料的芯片。制造的设备将首先在ORC进行表征，然后应用于临床诊断应用，包括与南安普顿大学医院和伦敦大学学院医院合作的nRDS。

There is a pressing need for diagnostic tools that can produce results quickly from patients' bedsides and in doctors' surgeries. Rapid, accurate results will allow rapid therapeutic decisions and save lives at reduced cost. In contrast, existing technologies require transfer of samples to centrally located laboratories equipped with sophisticated instruments, and highly skilled personnel. Both Mid-IR and Raman spectroscopies have been shown independently to be powerful biodiagnostic tool for specific biomarkers, however, combining the strengths of both these techniques on a single chip will take advantage of their complementarity in identifying biomarkers of disease much more efficiently.The overall aim of this project is to develop the ATR/Raman chips using advanced materials and apply the chip for proof of principle demonstration for the diagnostics of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (nRDS). In specific the project will involve computational modelling and design of these chips including signal enhancement features using resonating structures. This will be followed by fabrication of the chips in our cleanrooms based on materials such as silicon and plastics. Fabricated devices will be first characterised at the ORC and then applied to clinical diagnostic applications including nRDS in collaboration with University Hospital Southampton and University College London Hospital.