Multi-Analyte Detection Based on Integrated Internal and External Sensing Approach

High-Sensitivity Refractive Index Sensor with Dual-Channel Based on Surface Plasmon Resonance Photonic Crystal Fiber

In order to achieve a high-precision synchronous detection of two different refractive index (RI) analytes, a D-type surface plasmon resonance (SPR) photonic crystal fiber (PCF) RI sensor based on two channels is designed in this paper. The sensor uses a D-shaped planar region of the PCF and a large circular air hole below the core as the sensing channels. Surface plasmon resonance is induced by applying a coating of gold film on the surface. The full-vector finite-element method (FEM) is used to optimize the structural parameters of the optical fiber, and the sensing characteristics are studied, including wavelength sensitivity, RI resolution, full width at half maximum (FWHM), figure of merit (FOM), and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). The results show that the channel 1 (Ch 1) can achieve RI detection of 1.36-1.39 in the wavelength range of 1500-2600 nm, and the channel 2 (Ch 2) can achieve RI detection of 1.46-1.57 in the wavelength range of 2100-3000 nm. The two sensing channels can detect independently or simultaneously measure two analytes with different RIs. The maximum wavelength sensitivity of the sensor can reach 30,000 nm/RIU in Channel 1 and 9900 nm/RIU in Channel 2. The RI resolutions of the two channels are 3.54 × 10-6 RIU and 10.88 × 10-6 RIU, respectively. Therefore, the sensor realizes dual-channel high- and low-RI synchronous detection in the ultra-long wavelength band from near-infrared to mid-infrared and achieves an ultra-wide RI detection range and ultra-high wavelength sensitivity. The sensor has a wide application prospect in the fields of chemical detection, biomedical sensing, and water environment monitoring.

PCF Based Four-Channel SPR Biosensor With Wide Sensing Range

In this article, we have demonstrated a highly sensitive four-channel photonic crystal fiber (PCF) based surface plasmon resonance (SPR) biosensor which can detect four different analytes simultaneously. To ease practical implementation, four analyte sensing layers and plasmonic materials such as gold (Au) and gold (Au) with Tantalum Pentoxide (Ta2O5) are placed on the exterior of the four arms of the square shaped structure. The sensor's structure consists of only nine circular air holes, making it simple and easy to fabricate using currently available technologies. Finite element method (FEM) based numerical analysis is used to evaluate the sensing performance of the proposed sensor. With optimum structure parameters, the sensor achieves maximum wavelength sensitivity of 11000, 25000, 11000 and 25000 nm/RIU for Channel-1, Channel-2, Channel-3, and Channel-4 respectively. It shows maximum amplitude sensitivity of 803.732, 709.171, 803.827, 709.146 RIU -1 for Channel 1, 2, 3, and 4 respectively. It also shows maximum FOM of 232.55, 352.36, 231.57, 352.36 RIU -1 in Ch-1, Ch-2, Ch-3 and Ch-4 respectively. Moreover, the proposed sensor shows a wide range of refractive index sensing capability from 1.30 to 1.41. Due to multi-analyte detection capability, large sensing range, and excellent sensitivity the proposed sensor unfolds unrivalled capacity of detecting chemicals, carcinogenic agents, biomolecules, and other analytes.

D-shaped photonic crystal fiber sensor based on the surface plasmon resonance effect for refractive index detection

In this paper, a photonic crystal fiber (PCF) sensor based on the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) effect for refractive index (RI) detection is proposed. We design a D-shaped polished PCF structure consisting of air holes arranged in a hexagonal lattice. The silver film is coated on the middle channel of the polished surface of the PCF. The finite element method is used to analyze the propagation characteristics of the proposed D-shaped SPR-PCF sensor. Simulation results show that the proposed D-shaped SPR-PCF sensor has a maximum wavelength sensitivity of 30,000 nm/RIU, an average wavelength sensitivity of 6785.71 nm/RIU, and a maximum resolution of 3.33×10-6 R I U in the RI range of 1.22-1.36. Owing to the high wavelength sensitivity in the considered RI range, the proposed D-shaped SPR-PCF sensor is suitable for applications in water contamination detection, liquid concentration measurement, food safety monitoring, etc.

High-performance surface plasmon resonance fiber sensor based on cylindrical vector modes

Cylindrical vector modes with azimuthal polarization and low transmission loss are proposed for the first time to be utilized in a novel design of a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensor based on a circular photonic crystal fiber (C-PCF). A C-PCF with a ring of air holes in the cladding is designed where a gold layer with a thickness of 44 nm is coated on the outer cladding surface. The optimal geometric parameters are determined using the finite-element method (FEM) for a high-quality TE₀₁ mode and high sensitivity of the sensor. The proposed SPR sensor shows high sensitivity for analyte refractive index (RI) ranging from n_a = 1.29 to 1.34 over the wavelength range of 1400-2000 nm. It is expected that the proposed sensor can sense low concentrations of hemoglobin, lymphocytes and monocytes of red and white blood cells which are effective in diagnosing the progress of cancer tumors. The maximum sensitivity of 13,800 nm/RIU is obtained in the refractive index environment of 1.33-1.34. The sensor resolution is of the order of 10^-6 and the amplitude sensitivity reaches its maximum of 2380 RIU^-1 at n_a = 1.30 which is the highest value ever reported. Our proposed sensor shows high sensitivity and simultaneously simple design with high performance.

Challenges and perspectives of multi-virus biosensing techniques: A review

In the context of globalization, individuals have an increased chance of being infected by multiple viruses simultaneously, thereby highlighting the importance of developing multiplexed devices. In addition to sufficient sensitivity and rapid response, multi-virus sensing techniques are expected to offer additional advantages including high throughput, one-time sampling for parallel analysis, and full automation with data visualization. In this paper, we review the optical, electrochemical, and mechanical platforms that enable multi-virus biosensing. The working mechanisms of each platform, including the detection principle, transducer configuration, bio-interface design, and detected signals, are reviewed. The advantages and limitations, as well as the challenges in implementing various detection strategies in real-life scenarios, were evaluated. Future perspectives on multiplexed biosensing techniques are critically discussed. Earlier access to multi-virus biosensors will efficiently serve for immediate pandemic control, such as in emerging SARS-CoV-2 and monkeypox cases.

Plasmonic Micro-Channel Assisted Photonic Crystal Fiber Based Highly Sensitive Sensor for Multi-Analyte Detection

A dual-channel propagation controlled photonic crystal fiber (PCF)-based plasmonic sensor was presented to detect multiple analytes simultaneously. Plasmonic micro-channels were placed on the outer surface of the PCF, which facilitates an easy sensing mechanism. The sensor was numerically investigated by the finite element method (FEM) with the perfectly matched layer (PML) boundary conditions. The proposed sensor performances were analyzed based on optimized sensor parameters, such as confinement loss, resonance coupling, resolution, sensitivity, and figure of merit (FOM). The proposed sensor showed a maximum wavelength sensitivity (WS) of 25,000 nm/refractive index unit (RIU) with a maximum sensor resolution (SR) of 4.0 × 10⁻⁶ RIU for channel 2 (Ch-2), and WS of 3000 nm/RIU with SR of 3.33 × 10⁻⁵ RIU for channel 1 (Ch-1). To the best of our knowledge, the proposed sensor exhibits the highest WS compared with the previously reported multi-analyte based PCF surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensors. The proposed sensor could detect the unknown analytes within the refractive index (RI) range of 1.32 to 1.39 in the visible to near infrared region (550 to 1300 nm). In addition, the proposed sensor offers the maximum Figure of Merit (FOM) of 150 and 500 RIU⁻¹ with the limit of detection (LOD) of 1.11 × 10⁻⁸ RIU²/nm and 1.6 × 10⁻¹⁰ RIU²/nm for Ch-1 and Ch-2, respectively. Due to its highly sensitive nature, the proposed multi-analyte PCF SPR sensor could be a prominent candidate in the field of biosensing to detect biomolecule interactions and chemical sensing.

Microchannel-Embedded D-Shaped Photonic Crystal Fiber-Based Highly Sensitive Plasmonic Biosensor

An improved design of a D-shaped photonic crystal fiber (PCF)-based refractive index (RI) sensor is proposed that uses the surface plasmon resonance phenomenon. The sensor consists of a large semicircular open channel that is inserted at the upside of the D-shaped PCF. A thin plasmonic sensing layer is deposited on the interior surface of the channel to excite the surface plasmon wave that eliminates the requirement of additional effort to fabricate a well-polished sensing layer of the D-shaped sensor. The sensor’s optical properties are numerically explored by the finite element method. The sensor is optimized to detect the RI of biological and biochemical analytes in the range of 1.33 to 1.44, shows spectral sensitivity as high as 63,000 nm/RIU with a spectral resolution of 1.59 × 10−06 RIU, and maximum amplitude sensitivity of 1439 RIU−1 with a resolution of 6.94 × 10−06 RIU. It is also found that the sensor’s linearity parameter is very high with a large figure of merit of about 839. Additionally, the sensor’s fabrication tolerance is studied by varying its structural parameters. Therefore, high sensing parameters with a wide detection range make this microchannel-based D-shaped PCF sensor an appropriate device for the application of biological and biochemical analyte detection.