Developing a Novel Terahertz Fabry-Perot Microcavity Biosensor by Incorporating Porous Film for Yeast Sensing
Hwan Sik Kim1, Seung Won Jun1, Yeong Hwan Ahn1
1Department of Physics and Department of Energy Systems Research, Ajou University, Suwon 16499, Republic of Korea.
Sensors (Basel, Switzerland)
|July 14, 2023
Summary
This study introduces a new terahertz biosensor using a porous PTFE film for enhanced microorganism detection. The novel terahertz Fabry-Perot microcavity biosensor shows linear frequency shifts with yeast concentration, improving detection sensitivity.
Area of Science:
- Terahertz (THz) Spectroscopy
- Biosensing Technology
- Materials Science
Background:
- Terahertz (THz) Fabry-Perot (FP) microcavities offer enhanced field confinement for sensitive detection.
- Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) possesses a dielectric constant near unity in the THz range, making it suitable for biosensor substrates.
- Improving microorganism detection sensitivity and specificity remains a key challenge in biosensing.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and characterize a novel THz Fabry-Perot microcavity biosensor utilizing a porous PTFE supporting film.
- To investigate the sensor's performance for microorganism detection, specifically yeast.
- To establish a quantitative relationship between resonant frequency shift and the amount and location of the target analyte.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of a THz Fabry-Perot microcavity incorporating a porous PTFE film.
- Utilizing THz transmission spectroscopy to measure resonant frequency shifts.
- Employing finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) simulations for theoretical validation.
- Generating THz transmission images to map analyte distribution.
Main Results:
- The THz FP microcavity biosensor demonstrated a linear resonant frequency shift with increasing yeast concentration.
- Sensor sensitivity reached 11.7 GHz/μm when yeast was optimally placed within the cavity.
- Frequency shifts were dependent on the analyte's location within the microcavity, with no shift observed when yeast was on the mirror surface.
- FDTD simulations corroborated the experimental findings regarding frequency shifts and electric field distribution.
Conclusions:
- The developed THz FP microcavity biosensor with a PTFE film significantly enhances microorganism detection capabilities.
- The sensor's performance is directly correlated with the amount and precise location of the target analyte within the microcavity.
- This technology shows promise for sensitive and spatially resolved microbial analysis using THz imaging.
