Hybrid Metasurface for On-Chip Enrichment and Quantification of Biological Samples

Area of Science:

• Nanotechnology
• Biosensing
• Materials Science

Background:

• Traditional biosensing often faces limitations in sensitivity and assay time.
• Integrating sample concentration with detection can overcome these challenges.
• Biomimetic superhydrophobic surfaces offer novel approaches for sample handling.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a 3D-printed biosensing device combining sample enrichment and quantification.
• To utilize a biomimetic hydrophobic structure for analyte concentration.
• To demonstrate the device's efficacy in detecting swine influenza A virus.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a nanoplasmonic sensing element and a microscale hydrophobic structure using two-photon polymerization lithography (TPL).
• Design of a superhydrophobic microstructure inspired by lotus leaf surfaces.
• Integration of sample concentration and nanoplasmonic quantification on a single chip.

Main Results:

• The device achieved over a 4 × 10^4-fold concentration of swine influenza A virus from a 20 μL droplet within 15 minutes.
• Plasmonic heating-driven evaporation reduced droplet diameter from 3.4 mm to 0.1 mm.
• Demonstrated improved analyte immobilization, enhanced sensitivity, and reduced assay time.

Conclusions:

• The 3D-printed metasurface biosensor effectively integrates sample enrichment and quantification.
• The biomimetic hydrophobic structure significantly enhances analyte concentration and detection performance.
• This approach offers a high-resolution, simple fabrication method for advanced biosensing applications.