Photonic Biosensors for Point of Care Diagnostics, Monitoring and Screening

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The combination of photonics and microfluidics provides an opportunity to develop portable medical diagnostics, screening and monitoring systems. These high quality, point of care testing systems enable health care technologies to be taken directly to the patient. Such systems have particularly important applications in developing countries where there is often a lack of access to state of the art medical diagnostic facilities. However there is also potential for their use in developed countries, which are struggling with spiraling health costs and where low cost portable diagnostics can provide more rapid results which leads to more effective care. In addition point of care systems open up the possibility of personalized treatment whereby the effect of medications can be monitored in real time and effective dosages optimized on an individualized patient basis.******To make point of care testing a reality, there is a need to develop improved, multi-modal systems which are capable of measuring simultaneously more than a single parameter. This discovery grant application outlines a program of work that will enable a) the development of multi-modal sensing methodologies and b) the development of on-chip lasers and spectrometers. It is the combination of these research themes which will enable the development of rugged and robust point of care systems.******Trainees engaged on the project will have the opportunity to work on a number of multi-disciplinary projects aimed at developing tests such as optical enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) and surface plasmon molecular sensors. The research program will also focus on integrating sample preparation steps with the photonic sensors to produce a cartridge-based approach to integrating a particular test. In parallel this discovery grant will support work on the development of a vertical approach to monolithically integrating III-V semiconductor components on a single chip to produce the spectrometers and lasers required to enable the portable systems described. Trainees will have the opportunity to interact with experts in nanotechnology, biomedical engineering and medical diagnostics.******The combination of integrated optics and micro-fluidics is set to enable portable medical diagnostics, screening and monitoring systems. In the longer term, advance laser sources and integrated spectrometers will deliver a completely non-invasive approach to blood testing which does not require a finger prick sized sample. This will make systems more user friendly and compatible with the burgeoning wearable health-related technology sector.