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Terahertz Microfluidic Sensing Using a Parallel-plate Waveguide Sensor
Published on: August 30, 2012
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Design and optimization of highly sensitive multi-band terahertz metamaterial biosensor for coronaviruses detection
Zienab El-Wasif1, Tawfik Ismail1,2, Omnia Hamdy1
1Giza, 12613 Egypt National Institute of Laser Enhanced Sciences, Cairo University.
Optical and Quantum Electronics
|May 22, 2023
Summary
This study introduces a novel THz metamaterial biosensor for detecting coronaviruses. The ultrasensitive device demonstrates high Q-Factor and near-perfect absorption, enabling early detection of viral threats.
Area of Science:
- Terahertz (THz) Metamaterial Biosensing
- Nanophotonics and Plasmonics
- Biosensor Technology
Background:
- Accurate and early detection of viruses like coronaviruses is crucial for public health.
- Existing biosensing technologies face limitations in sensitivity and speed for certain viral concentrations.
- Metamaterials offer unique electromagnetic properties for developing advanced sensing platforms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To design and characterize a highly sensitive THz refractive-index-based metamaterial biosensor.
- To demonstrate the biosensor's capability for detecting coronaviruses at low concentrations.
- To evaluate the sensor's performance metrics including sensitivity, Q-Factor, and figure of merit.
Main Methods:
- A gold plane perforated with a star shape was designed as the core metamaterial structure.
- The biosensor's absorption, polarization insensitivity, and angular stability were analyzed.
- Performance was evaluated using Infectious Bronchitis Virus (IBV) as a model for coronavirus detection, assessing frequency deviation, sensitivity, and figure of merit at different concentrations.
Main Results:
- The biosensor achieved near-perfect absorption at specific THz frequencies with high Q-Factors (up to 155.98).
- Demonstrated high sensitivity (up to 2200 × 10^3 GHz/RIU) and figure of merit (up to 20,215.014) for coronavirus detection.
- The design showed polarization insensitivity and angular stability, and its applicability was extended to other viruses (H5N1, H5N2, H9N2, H4N6, FAdV).
Conclusions:
- The proposed THz metamaterial biosensor is highly effective for ultrasensitive and early detection of coronaviruses.
- The sensor's robust design and high performance metrics indicate its potential for widespread viral detection applications.
- Further optimization of design parameters can enhance the biosensor's performance for various viral targets.
