Compact Laser-Induced Fluorescence Detector with Adjustable Laser Focal Spot for Multiple Purposes

In many research fields, the demand for miniaturized laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) detection systems has been increasing. This work has developed a compact LIF detector, employing a laser diode as the excitation source and a photodiode as the photodetector with an adjustable laser focal spot, to meet the diverse requirements of various observation targets, such as capillaries, PCR tubes, and microfluidic chips. It features the functionalities of background fluorescence correction, the adaptive adjustment of the dynamic range, and constant power control for the laser. The influence of the excitation power on the detection limit was studied through experiments, and the configuration results for LED/LD as light sources and 487/450 nm wavelengths were compared and optimized. A fully integrated, compact, modular epifluorescence LIF detector was subsequently constructed, measuring 40 × 22 × 38 mm³ in total size, with a cost of USD 320, and achieving a detection limit of 0.4 nM for fluorescein sodium. Finally, the detector was integrated into a nucleic acid detection system with a microfluidic chip on the Chinese Space Station (CSS) and was also tested with PCR tubes and capillaries, proving its broad practicality and adaptability to various analytical systems.