An Integrated Photonic Biosensing Platform for Pathogen Detection in Aquaculture

Area of Science:

• Biomedical engineering
• Aquaculture technology
• Biosensing

Background:

• Aquaculture is crucial for global food security, but pathogen outbreaks pose significant risks.
• Early detection and rapid response to pathogens are vital for sustainable aquaculture.
• Current monitoring methods may lack the sensitivity or speed required for effective pathogen management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and demonstrate a miniaturized photonic biosensing platform for aquaculture pathogen detection.
• To showcase advancements in silicon nitride waveguide technology and hybrid integration.
• To validate the platform's capability in detecting specific bacterial aquaculture pathogens.

Main Methods:

• Development of a silicon nitride photonic integrated circuit (PIC) with integrated active components.
• Wafer-level processes for hybrid integration and material-selective surface modification.
• Design and development of DNA biomarker assays for bacterial pathogens (Aeromonas salmonicida, Vagococcus salmoninarum, Yersinia ruckeri).
• Integration of the PIC into a microfluidic cartridge and development of a desktop readout instrument.

Main Results:

• Successful miniaturization of the PIC and development of scalable integration processes.
• Identification of DNA biomarkers and development of qPCR assays for three key aquaculture pathogens.
• First successful demonstration of biosensing for Aeromonas biomarker detection on the hybrid PIC platform.

Conclusions:

• The developed photonic biosensing platform represents a significant advancement for aquaculture pathogen monitoring.
• The hybrid PIC technology enables sensitive and rapid detection, crucial for preventing disease outbreaks.
• This technology holds promise for enhancing the sustainability and biosecurity of the aquaculture sector.