Laboratory for Photonics of Surfaces and Interfaces

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Summary of ProposalThe Laboratory for Photonics of Surfaces and Interfaces (LoPSI)Surface and interface science is gaining more interest and increasing importance. It is a highly interdisciplinary field and spans from fundamental sciences such as physics, chemistry, and biology to the applied sciences and into daily life. Typical applications - just to name a few -are chemical and biochemical sensors, self-cleaning surfaces and tissue engineering. Surfaces play a major role in all aspects of nanotechnology but also on all macroscopic and technical surfaces. A typical example of a still unsolved problem with many aspects of interdisciplinary surface science is the growth of "sea creatures" on ships called bio-fouling. The fuel consumption increases rapidly with increasing biomass. An anti-fouling paint would have an enormous impact on sea-logistics. The calcification of heart valves, the knowledge of the adhesion strength and quality between a cell and an implant or sturdy antibacterial coatings avoiding salmonella outbreaks in food plants or water works are other examples in this context needing fundamental scientific input. Among a variety of well-established techniques for surface and interface research is the remarkable set of optical approaches based on waveguides and plasmonic devices showing a thin film of light (an evanescent field) directly located at the point of interest: the surface. In nano-plasmonics, metal nanoparticles (NPs) show a very strong film of light in conjunction with a strong absorption band allowing simple colorimetric devices with application in high sensitivity chemical sensing. The surface photonics are also applied in surface microscopy. Scattering and fluorescence evanescent microscopies are now available to study surfaces and interfaces, coatings, artificial bio-membranes, biofilm formation (bacteria), and single cell-substratum interaction. The LoPSI is known world-wide for its highly sophisticated, interdisciplinary research program and achievements through many scientific contributions in form of high impact publications, patents, and outstanding conference contribution. The LoPSI carries expertise in ultra-thin and thin film physics, chemistry and biology (from monolayers to bio-membranes).One aim is the fabrication of highly oriented collagen films in layered form, mimicking the cornea's internal structure, with a size in the order of 1 cm2. With these multilayered films cornea reconstruction in the human eye should be enabled (e.g. glaucoma patients). With the aid of these photonic and plasmonic tools and combinations thereof, ultrathin natural and engineered films as well as living cells and biofilms located on surfaces will be detected, characterized, and imaged microscopically based on their specific optical predicates. In the current proposal the focus lies on the development of novel high optical quality waveguide chips fabricated out of glass or from polymers. These waveguide chips will be used for gold NP bio-sensing (cancer markers), for evanescent microscopy in particular to allow studying and enhancing the adhesion-quality of cells to a technical (implant) surface. One future aim is a miniaturized infant pace maker. Re-usable glass chip will be developed to foster the use of the novel microscopy technology, iter alia for stem cell research. During the 5 year period graduate students, MSc and PhD, will be excellently trained on state-of-the-art technology and R&D strategies which will advance, enhance and foster Canada's high tech R&D now and in the future; therefore contributing actively to Canada's economic wealth and to a Canadian life.