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Feng H, Zhang J, Shu W, Bai X, Song L, Chen Y. Highly Accurate Pneumatically Tunable Optofluidic Distributed Feedback Dye Lasers. MICROMACHINES 2023; 15:68. [PMID: 38258186 PMCID: PMC10820426 DOI: 10.3390/mi15010068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2023] [Revised: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
Optofluidic dye lasers integrated into microfluidic chips are promising miniature coherent light sources for biosensing. However, achieving the accurate and efficient tuning of lasers remains challenging. This study introduces a novel pneumatically tunable optofluidic distributed feedback (DFB) dye laser in a multilayer microfluidic chip. The dye laser device integrates microfluidic channels, grating structures, and vacuum chambers. A second-order DFB grating configuration is utilized to ensure single-mode lasing. The application of vacuum pressure to the chambers stretches the soft grating layer, enabling the sensitive tuning of the lasing wavelength at a high resolution of 0.25 nm within a 7.84 nm range. The precise control of pressure and laser tuning is achieved through an electronic regulator. Additionally, the integrated microfluidic channels and optimized waveguide structure facilitate efficient dye excitation, resulting in a low pump threshold of 164 nJ/pulse. This pneumatically tunable optofluidic DFB laser, with its high-resolution wavelength tuning range, offers new possibilities for the development of integrated portable devices for biosensing and spectroscopy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Yan Chen
- Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China; (H.F.); (J.Z.); (W.S.); (X.B.); (L.S.)
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Khosla NK, Lesinski JM, Colombo M, Bezinge L, deMello AJ, Richards DA. Simplifying the complex: accessible microfluidic solutions for contemporary processes within in vitro diagnostics. LAB ON A CHIP 2022; 22:3340-3360. [PMID: 35984715 PMCID: PMC9469643 DOI: 10.1039/d2lc00609j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
In vitro diagnostics (IVDs) form the cornerstone of modern medicine. They are routinely employed throughout the entire treatment pathway, from initial diagnosis through to prognosis, treatment planning, and post-treatment surveillance. Given the proven links between high quality diagnostic testing and overall health, ensuring broad access to IVDs has long been a focus of both researchers and medical professionals. Unfortunately, the current diagnostic paradigm relies heavily on centralized laboratories, complex and expensive equipment, and highly trained personnel. It is commonly assumed that this level of complexity is required to achieve the performance necessary for sensitive and specific disease diagnosis, and that making something affordable and accessible entails significant compromises in test performance. However, recent work in the field of microfluidics is challenging this notion. By exploiting the unique features of microfluidic systems, researchers have been able to create progressively simple devices that can perform increasingly complex diagnostic assays. This review details how microfluidic technologies are disrupting the status quo, and facilitating the development of simple, affordable, and accessible integrated IVDs. Importantly, we discuss the advantages and limitations of various approaches, and highlight the remaining challenges within the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan K Khosla
- Institute for Chemical and Bioengineering, ETH Zürich, Vladimir Prelog Weg 1, Zürich, 8093, Switzerland.
| | - Jake M Lesinski
- Institute for Chemical and Bioengineering, ETH Zürich, Vladimir Prelog Weg 1, Zürich, 8093, Switzerland.
| | - Monika Colombo
- Institute for Chemical and Bioengineering, ETH Zürich, Vladimir Prelog Weg 1, Zürich, 8093, Switzerland.
| | - Léonard Bezinge
- Institute for Chemical and Bioengineering, ETH Zürich, Vladimir Prelog Weg 1, Zürich, 8093, Switzerland.
| | - Andrew J deMello
- Institute for Chemical and Bioengineering, ETH Zürich, Vladimir Prelog Weg 1, Zürich, 8093, Switzerland.
| | - Daniel A Richards
- Institute for Chemical and Bioengineering, ETH Zürich, Vladimir Prelog Weg 1, Zürich, 8093, Switzerland.
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Optical Whispering-Gallery-Mode Microbubble Sensors. MICROMACHINES 2022; 13:mi13040592. [PMID: 35457896 PMCID: PMC9026417 DOI: 10.3390/mi13040592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2022] [Revised: 04/01/2022] [Accepted: 04/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Whispering-gallery-mode (WGM) microbubble resonators are ideal optical sensors due to their high quality factor, small mode volume, high optical energy density, and geometry/design/structure (i.e., hollow microfluidic channels). When used in combination with microfluidic technologies, WGM microbubble resonators can be applied in chemical and biological sensing due to strong light–matter interactions. The detection of ultra-low concentrations over a large dynamic range is possible due to their high sensitivity, which has significance for environmental monitoring and applications in life-science. Furthermore, WGM microbubble resonators have also been widely used for physical sensing, such as to detect changes in temperature, stress, pressure, flow rate, magnetic field and ultrasound. In this article, we systematically review and summarize the sensing mechanisms, fabrication and packing methods, and various applications of optofluidic WGM microbubble resonators. The challenges of rapid production and practical applications of WGM microbubble resonators are also discussed.
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Toropov N, Cabello G, Serrano MP, Gutha RR, Rafti M, Vollmer F. Review of biosensing with whispering-gallery mode lasers. LIGHT, SCIENCE & APPLICATIONS 2021; 10:42. [PMID: 33637696 PMCID: PMC7910454 DOI: 10.1038/s41377-021-00471-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 93] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2020] [Revised: 01/04/2021] [Accepted: 01/09/2021] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Lasers are the pillars of modern optics and sensing. Microlasers based on whispering-gallery modes (WGMs) are miniature in size and have excellent lasing characteristics suitable for biosensing. WGM lasers have been used for label-free detection of single virus particles, detection of molecular electrostatic changes at biointerfaces, and barcode-type live-cell tagging and tracking. The most recent advances in biosensing with WGM microlasers are described in this review. We cover the basic concepts of WGM resonators, the integration of gain media into various active WGM sensors and devices, and the cutting-edge advances in photonic devices for micro- and nanoprobing of biological samples that can be integrated with WGM lasers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikita Toropov
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Living Systems Institute, University of Exeter, Exeter, EX4 4QD, UK.
| | - Gema Cabello
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Living Systems Institute, University of Exeter, Exeter, EX4 4QD, UK
| | - Mariana P Serrano
- Departamento de Química, Instituto de Investigaciones Fisicoquímicas Teóricas y Aplicadas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, La Plata, 1900, Argentina
| | - Rithvik R Gutha
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Living Systems Institute, University of Exeter, Exeter, EX4 4QD, UK
| | - Matías Rafti
- Departamento de Química, Instituto de Investigaciones Fisicoquímicas Teóricas y Aplicadas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, La Plata, 1900, Argentina
| | - Frank Vollmer
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Living Systems Institute, University of Exeter, Exeter, EX4 4QD, UK.
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Rho D, Breaux C, Kim S. Label-Free Optical Resonator-Based Biosensors. SENSORS 2020; 20:s20205901. [PMID: 33086566 PMCID: PMC7589515 DOI: 10.3390/s20205901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2020] [Revised: 10/12/2020] [Accepted: 10/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The demand for biosensor technology has grown drastically over the last few decades, mainly in disease diagnosis, drug development, and environmental health and safety. Optical resonator-based biosensors have been widely exploited to achieve highly sensitive, rapid, and label-free detection of biological analytes. The advancements in microfluidic and micro/nanofabrication technologies allow them to be miniaturized and simultaneously detect various analytes in a small sample volume. By virtue of these advantages and advancements, the optical resonator-based biosensor is considered a promising platform not only for general medical diagnostics but also for point-of-care applications. This review aims to provide an overview of recent progresses in label-free optical resonator-based biosensors published mostly over the last 5 years. We categorized them into Fabry-Perot interferometer-based and whispering gallery mode-based biosensors. The principles behind each biosensor are concisely introduced, and recent progresses in configurations, materials, test setup, and light confinement methods are described. Finally, the current challenges and future research topics of the optical resonator-based biosensor are discussed.
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Liu W, Yu H, Hu R, Xu T, Lun Y, Gan J, Xu S, Yang Z, Tang BZ. Microlasers from AIE-Active BODIPY Derivative. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2020; 16:e1907074. [PMID: 32003921 DOI: 10.1002/smll.201907074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2019] [Revised: 01/16/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Organic microlasers have attracted much attention due to their unique features such as high mechanical flexibility, facile doping of gain materials, high optical quality, simplicity and low-cost fabrication. However, organic gain materials usually suffer from aggregation-caused quenching (ACQ), preventing further advances of organic microlasers. Here, a new type of microlaser from aggregation-induced emission (AIE) material is successfully demonstrated. By introducing a typical noncrystalline AIE material, a high quality microlaser is obtained via a surface tension-induced self-assembly approach. Distinct from conventional organic microlasers, the organic luminescent material used here is initially nonluminescent but can shine after aggregation under optical pumping. Further investigations demonstrate that AIE-based microlasers exhibit advantages to enable much higher doping concentrations, which provides an alternative way to improved lasing performance including dramatically reduced threshold and favorable lasing stability. It is believed that these results could provide a promising way to extend the content of microlasers and open a new avenue to enable applications ranging from chemical sensing to biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wangwang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Luminescent Materials and Devices, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510640, P. R. China
- Institute of Optical Communication Materials, Guangdong Engineering Technology Research and Development Center of Special Optical Fiber Materials and Devices, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Fiber Laser Materials and Applied Techniques, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510640, P. R. China
| | - Huakang Yu
- School of Physics and Optoelectronics, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510640, P. R. China
| | - Rongrong Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Luminescent Materials and Devices, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510640, P. R. China
| | - Tao Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Luminescent Materials and Devices, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510640, P. R. China
- Institute of Optical Communication Materials, Guangdong Engineering Technology Research and Development Center of Special Optical Fiber Materials and Devices, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Fiber Laser Materials and Applied Techniques, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510640, P. R. China
| | - Yipeng Lun
- School of Physics and Optoelectronics, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510640, P. R. China
| | - Jiulin Gan
- State Key Laboratory of Luminescent Materials and Devices, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510640, P. R. China
- Institute of Optical Communication Materials, Guangdong Engineering Technology Research and Development Center of Special Optical Fiber Materials and Devices, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Fiber Laser Materials and Applied Techniques, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510640, P. R. China
| | - Shanhui Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Luminescent Materials and Devices, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510640, P. R. China
- Institute of Optical Communication Materials, Guangdong Engineering Technology Research and Development Center of Special Optical Fiber Materials and Devices, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Fiber Laser Materials and Applied Techniques, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510640, P. R. China
| | - Zhongmin Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Luminescent Materials and Devices, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510640, P. R. China
- Institute of Optical Communication Materials, Guangdong Engineering Technology Research and Development Center of Special Optical Fiber Materials and Devices, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Fiber Laser Materials and Applied Techniques, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510640, P. R. China
- School of Physics and Optoelectronics, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510640, P. R. China
| | - Ben Zhong Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Luminescent Materials and Devices, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510640, P. R. China
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Liu X, Hu Y, Jia P, Zhang P, Wu H, Hao Z, Bo F, Chen Z, Xu J. Free-space coupling enhancement of micro-resonators via self-accelerating beams. OPTICS EXPRESS 2018; 26:32055-32062. [PMID: 30650784 DOI: 10.1364/oe.26.032055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2018] [Accepted: 11/15/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
We study free-space coupling of optical fields to the whispering-gallery-mode resonators by employing self-accelerating beams orbiting a semicircle. The best coupling condition is obtained through theoretical analysis, in accord with the numerical results. Comparing with the conventional Gaussian-like beams, much enhanced coupling efficiency is achieved with such self-accelerating beams, particularly when a large numerical aperture of an optical system is used or a higher-order azimuthal mode is considered. Conditions with slight deviation from the ideal radius of self-accelerating beams are further discussed, aiming to realize an optimized high coupling efficiency.
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Zhang X. Editorial for the Special Issue on Advances in Optofluidics. MICROMACHINES 2018; 9:E302. [PMID: 30424235 PMCID: PMC6187236 DOI: 10.3390/mi9060302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2018] [Accepted: 06/14/2018] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Xuming Zhang
- Department of Applied Physics, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong 999077, China.
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