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Waveguide-Based Biosensors for Pathogen Detection

Journal Article · · Sensors
DOI:https://doi.org/10.3390/s90705783· OSTI ID:1628574
 [1];  [2];  [2];  [3];  [4];  [5];  [2]
  1. Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States). Chemistry Division. Physical Chemistry and Applied spectroscopy; DOE/OSTI
  2. Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States). Chemistry Division. Physical Chemistry and Applied spectroscopy
  3. Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States). Integrated Space Research
  4. nGimat™, Atlanta, GA (United States)
  5. Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States). Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies (CINT)
Optical phenomena such as fluorescence, phosphorescence, polarization, interference and non-linearity have been extensively used for biosensing applications. Optical waveguides (both planar and fiber-optic) are comprised of a material with high permittivity/high refractive index surrounded on all sides by materials with lower refractive indices, such as a substrate and the media to be sensed. This arrangement allows coupled light to propagate through the high refractive index waveguide by total internal reflection and generates an electromagnetic wave—the evanescent field—whose amplitude decreases exponentially as the distance from the surface increases. Excitation of fluorophores within the evanescent wave allows for sensitive detection while minimizing background fluorescence from complex, “dirty” biological samples. In this review, we will describe the basic principles, advantages and disadvantages of planar optical waveguidebased biodetection technologies. This discussion will include already commercialized technologies (e.g., Corning’s EPIC® Ô, SRU Biosystems’ BIND™, Zeptosense®, etc.) and new technologies that are under research and development. We will also review differing assay approaches for the detection of various biomolecules, as well as the thin-film coatings that are often required for waveguide functionalization and effective detection. Finally, we will discuss reverse-symmetry waveguides, resonant waveguide grating sensors and metal-clad leaky waveguides as alternative signal transducers in optical biosensing.
Research Organization:
Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER). Biological Systems Science Division
Grant/Contract Number:
AC52-06NA25396
OSTI ID:
1628574
Journal Information:
Sensors, Journal Name: Sensors Journal Issue: 7 Vol. 9; ISSN SENSC9; ISSN 1424-8220
Publisher:
MDPI AGCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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