TriPleX™ waveguide-based fluorescence biosensor for multichannel environmental contaminants detection.

Area of Science:

• Optoelectronics
• Biosensing Technology
• Environmental Science

Background:

• Developing sensitive multi-analyte assays for environmental contaminants is crucial.
• Existing technologies may face limitations in sensitivity, cost, or mass production for widespread environmental monitoring.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate a novel optical biosensor for multi-analyte environmental contaminant detection.
• To utilize TriPleX™ waveguide technology on a fused silica substrate for enhanced performance and mass production.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of an integrated TriPleX™ waveguide chip on a fused silica substrate.
• Development of a sensor with 32 individually addressable patches using Y-junction splitters.
• Laser-induced fluorescence detection for biomolecule binding.
• Testing with microcystin-LR (MC-LR), 2,4-D, atrazine, and bisphenol A (BPA) as model analytes.

Main Results:

• Achieved sensitive detection limits: 0.22 μg/L for MC-LR, 1.18 μg/L for 2,4-D, 0.2 μg/L for atrazine, and 0.06 μg/L for BPA.
• Demonstrated high fiber-to-chip coupling efficiency and optimized chip surface intensity.
• Exhibited recovery rates from 84% to 120% for simultaneous detection in real water samples.

Conclusions:

• The developed TriPleX™ waveguide biosensor offers a sensitive and accurate platform for multi-analyte environmental contaminant detection.
• The complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor compatible fabrication enables cost-effective mass production.
• This technology holds significant potential for environmental monitoring applications.