GOALI: Chip-scale single-molecule optofluidic sensing and manipulation

该计划的目标是研究将光学和流体网络集成到微芯片中，以感知和操纵生命科学应用中的复杂流体。该计划将研究具有增强的传感分辨率和操作能力的硅基无标签光流控芯片。其智力优势是通过与GE全球研究中心的合作，为基于光学谐振器的波长尺度集成光流控创造了一个变革性的科学基础。该技术可以进行高空间分辨率的传感，同时寻求显著提高折射率测量的灵敏度。将寻求减少噪音和增加特异性的方法。这项工作的第二条线索将推进微流控芯片工具箱中的光流控多路复用器和解复用器等概念。将研究具有可切换激光激励的光波导阵列。与传统的自由空间光俘获技术相比，我们的技术的一个根本优势是分辨率可以与亚波长光子器件进行亚衍射。更广泛的影响是高灵敏度通用集成光学传感器的开发，这将增强芯片上实验室的功能。建议的硅基光流控集成可扩展到大型阵列，以实现高通量分析，并可在庞大的硅基础设施中制造。提出的光流控芯片可以显著提高微流控芯片的处理能力，用于无标记生物分子传感、操纵和主动控制等工业应用。这一跨学科研究的教育组成部分包括联合博士生咨询、GE本科生实习、与高中教师的接触以及一年一度的工业与大学联合座谈会。

The objective of this program is to examine the integration of optical and fluidic networks into microchips, to sense and manipulate complex fluids for life science applications. The program will examine silicon-based label-free optofluidic chips with enhanced sensing resolution and manipulation capabilities. The intellectual merit is to create a transformative science base for wavelength-scale integrated optofluidics based on optical resonators, with collaborative efforts with GE Global Research Center. This technology can perform high spatial resolution sensing, while seeking to significantly improve the refractive index measurement sensitivity. Approaches will be pursued for reduced noise and increased specificity. The second thread of this work will advance concepts such as optofluidic multiplexers and demultiplexers in the toolbox of microfluidic chips. Optical waveguide arrays with switchable laser excitation will be examined. A fundamental advantage of our technology over conventional free-space optical trapping is that the resolution can be sub-diffraction with the subwavelength photonic devices. The broader impacts are the development of high-sensitivity universal integrated optical sensors that will enhance Lab-on-a-Chip functionalities. The proposed silicon-based optofluidic integration is scalable to large arrays for high throughput analysis, and can be manufactured within the vast silicon infrastructure. The proposed optofluidic chips can significantly increase the processing power of microfluidic chips, for industrial applications such as label-free biomolecule sensing, manipulation, and active control. The educational components of this interdisciplinary research include joint PhD student advising, undergraduate internships at GE, outreach to high-school teachers, and a joint annual industrial-university colloquium.