Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-g7gxr Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-05T04:14:58.621Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Silicon Micro-Photonic Structure for Ultra-Sensitive Biosensing

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 February 2011

Bradley Schmidt
Affiliation:
School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Cornell University Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
Vilson Almeida
Affiliation:
School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Cornell University Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
Christina Manolatou
Affiliation:
School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Cornell University Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
Stefan Preble
Affiliation:
School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Cornell University Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
Michal Lipson
Affiliation:
School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Cornell University Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
Get access

Abstract

We demonstrate a micron-size planar silicon photonic device that is able to detect low concentrations of metal nano-particles approaching single particle detection. This sensitivity is achieved by using strong light confining structures that enhance the extinction cross-section of metal nano-particles by orders of magnitude. Structures were fabricated and measurements of the transmission spectra of the devices demonstrate the detection of 10 nm diameter gold particles resting on the device with a density of fewer than 2 particles per 104 nm2 (the area of the sensing region surface). Using such a device, in a fluidic platform, one could detect the presence of a single metal nano-particle specifically bound to various analytes, enabling ultrasensitive detection of analytes including DNA, RNA, proteins, and antigens.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2004

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

1. Lotien, Richard Huang, Jonas O., Tegenfeldt, Jessica J., Kraeft, James C., Sturm, Robert H., Austin, Edward C., Cox, “A DNA prism for high-speed continuous fractionation of large DNA molecules”, Nature Biotechnology, 20, 10481051 (2002).Google Scholar
2. Jason R., Epstein, Amy P. K., Leung, Kyong-Hoon, Lee and Walt, David R., “High-density, microsphere-based fiber optic DNA microarrays”, Biosensors and Bioelectronics, 18, 541546 (2003).Google Scholar
3. Guanghua, Wu, Ram H., Datar, Karolyn M., Hansen, Thomas, Thundat, Richard J., Cote, Arun, Majumdar, “Bioassay of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) using microcantilevers”, Nature Biotechnology, 19, 856860 (2001).Google Scholar
4. Haes, A. J., Van Duyne, R. P., “A Nanoscale Optical Biosensor: Sensitivity and Selectivity of an Approach Based on the Localized Surface Plasmon Resonance Spectroscopy of Triangular Silver Nanoparticles”, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 124, 1059610604 (2002).Google Scholar
5. Nie, S., Emory, R., “Probing Single Molecules and Single Nanoparticles by Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering”, Science, 275, 11021106 (1997).Google Scholar
6. Lin, V. S.-Y., Moteshari, K., Dancil, K.-P. S., Sailor, M. J., Ghadiri, M. R., “A Porous Silicon-based Optical Interferometric Biosensor”, Science, 278, 840843 (1997).Google Scholar
7. Brecht, A., Gauglitz, G., “Optical probes and transducers”, Biosensors and Bioelectronics, 10, 923936 (1995).Google Scholar
8. Vörös, J., Ramsden, J.J., Csúcs, G., Szendro, I., De Paul, S.M., Textor, M., Spencer, N. D., “Optical grating coupler biosensors”, Biomaterials, 23, 36993710 (2002).Google Scholar
9. Boyd, R. W., Heebner, J. E., “Sensitive disk resonator photonic biosensor”, Applied Optics, 40, 57425747 (2001).Google Scholar
10. Foresi, J. S., Villeneuve, P. R., Ferrera, J., Thoen, E. R., Steinmeyer, G., Fan, S., Joannopoulos, J. D., Kimerling, L. C., Smith, H. I., Ippen, E. P., “Photonic-bandgap microcavities in optical waveguides”, Nature, 390, 143145 (1997).Google Scholar
11. Vilson, Almeida, Qianfan, Xu, Roberto, Panepucci, Carlos, Barrios, Michal, Lipson, “Light Guiding in Low Index Materials using High-Index-Contrast Waveguides”, MRS Fall Meeting 2003 Proceedings.Google Scholar
12. Alexandre, I., Hamels, S., Dufour, S., Collet, J., Zammatteo, N., De Longueville, F., Gala, J.L., Remacle, J., “Colorimetric silver detection of DNA microarrays”, Analytical Biochemistry, 295, 18 (2001)Google Scholar