A packaged optical slot-waveguide ring resonator sensor array for multiplex label-free assays in labs-on-chips

Area of Science:

• Photonics
• Microfluidics
• Biosensing

Background:

• Multiplexed biosensing requires high throughput and reliable reference channels.
• Integrated optical sensors with microfluidics offer compact and efficient sample handling.
• Label-free detection methods are crucial for real-time monitoring without sample modification.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design, fabricate, and characterize a novel optical slot-waveguide ring resonator sensor array.
• To integrate microfluidic sample handling for multiplexed, real-time, label-free biosensing.
• To achieve high sensitivity and reliable detection through on-chip referencing and advanced fabrication.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of optical slot-waveguide ring resonators.
• Integration with microfluidic channels using a dual surface-energy adhesive film.
• Development of alignment-tolerant surface gratings for light coupling.
• Real-time data acquisition and physical modeling for analysis.

Main Results:

• Demonstration of multiplexed, real-time, label-free biosensing capabilities.
• Achieved a volume refractive index detection limit of 5 x 10(-6) RIUs.
• Achieved a surface mass density detection limit of 0.9 pg mm(-2).
• Validated the effectiveness of on-chip referencing for drift compensation.

Conclusions:

• The developed optical sensor array offers a highly sensitive and reliable platform for label-free biosensing.
• The compact cartridge design with integrated microfluidics and robust assembly enables practical applications.
• The achieved detection limits represent state-of-the-art performance for integrated planar ring resonators.