Novel fiber-optic sensing platforms for bio-chemical trace hazard detection

自2016年1月以来，我们的研究活动的主要方向集中在我的SPI/NSERC高级工业研究主席（IRC）在安全和安全监测的光子传感技术。这是一个为期5年的应用研究项目，重点研究使用光纤传感器（FOSs）检测细菌和非法药物的几种方法。提出的细菌检测的主要仪器平台是长周期光纤光栅（LPG）。本应用程序中提出的研究计划是在细菌检测目标范围内正在进行的IRC计划的基本扩展，其具体目的是探索以前从未研究过的几种新型光纤传感仪器平台。因此，这将是一个高风险项目，不适合IRC项目的应用性质，但在我们看来，适合在探索项目下提供资金。本文提出的两种新型光纤传感和仪器平台将利用我们的新设计、制造和技术能力进行探索和开发。这些包括飞秒（fs）激光器和相关的高精度微加工系统，自2015年底以来在我们的实验室建立和运行，现在完全可用于拟议的研究。第一个概念涉及到LPG和类似LPG的结构的制造，而不是在光纤芯本身（与传统的LPG一样），而是在包层区域的某个地方，在芯和光纤的外表面之间。第二种方法将涉及fs激光制造干涉仪，该干涉仪基于通过在光纤中钻孔产生的微腔。一旦这些新型平台被开发出来，它们将在致病性大肠杆菌检测的应用领域进行测试。这种细菌是食源性疾病最危险的病原体之一，已被确定为与食品安全有关的疾病的常见原因。食用受污染的食物或水可能是致命的，尤其是对儿童和老人。虽然大肠杆菌感染在发展中国家最为普遍，但最近在欧洲和北美爆发的许多疫情都归因于大肠杆菌菌株。因此，准确的常规快速检测对于在加拿大和国际上预防疫情至关重要。目前可用的测试是不充分的，因为它们需要花费大量时间来扩增样本。

Since January 2016 the main direction of our research activities has centered on my SPI/NSERC Senior Industrial Research Chair (IRC) in Photonic Sensing Technologies for Safety and Security Monitoring. This is a 5-year applied research program focused on several methods for detecting bacteria and illicit drugs using fiber-optic sensors (FOSs). The principal instrumentation platform proposed for bacteria detection is the long-period fiber grating (LPG).The research program presented in this application is a fundamental extension of this ongoing IRC program within the objective of bacteria detection, with the specific purpose of exploring several novel fiber-optic sensing instrumentation platforms that have never been investigated before. Consequently, it will be a high-risk program that would not be an appropriate fit with the applied nature of the IRC program, but would, in our opinion be appropriate for funding under the Discovery Program. The two novel fiber-optic sensing and instrumentation platforms that are proposed here will be explored and developed taking advantage of our new design, fabrication and technological capabilities. These involve a femtosecond (fs) laser and an associated high-precision micromachining system, both established and operational in our labs since the end of 2015, and now fully available for the proposed research. The first concept involves fabrication of the LPG and LPG-like structures not in the optical fiber core itself (as is the case with traditional LPGs) but rather somewhere in the cladding area, between the core and the external surface of the fiber. The second approach will involve fs-laser manufacturing of interferometers based on microcavities created by drilling specific openings in optical fibers.Once these novel platforms have been developed, they will be tested in the application area of Pathogenic E.coli detection. This bacteria is one of the most dangerous agents of food-borne disease, and has been identified as a common cause of diseases related to food safety. Consumption of contaminated food or water can be deadly, especially for children and the elderly. Although E.coli infection is most prevalent in developing countries, many recent outbreaks in Europe and North America have been attributed to a strain of E.coli. Accurate routine fast testing is therefore crucial for outbreak prevention both in Canada and internationally. Currently available tests are inadequate because they require time-consuming amplification of samples.