A photonic crystal cavity-optical fiber tip nanoparticle sensor for biomedical applications

Gary Shambat, Sri Rajasekhar Kothapalli, Aman Khurana, J. Provine, Tomas Sarmiento, Kai Cheng, Zhen Cheng, James Harris, Heike Daldrup-Link, Sanjiv Sam Gambhir, Jelena Vuković

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

32 Scopus citations

Abstract

We present a sensor capable of detecting solution-based nanoparticles using an optical fiber tip functionalized with a photonic crystal cavity. When sensor tips are retracted from a nanoparticle solution after being submerged, we find that a combination of convective fluid forces and optically induced trapping cause an aggregation of nanoparticles to form directly on cavity surfaces. A simple readout of quantum dot photoluminescence coupled to the optical fiber shows that nanoparticle presence and concentration can be detected through modified cavity properties. Our sensor can detect both gold and iron oxide nanoparticles and can be utilized for molecular sensing applications in biomedicine.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number213702
JournalApplied Physics Letters
Volume100
Issue number21
DOIs
StatePublished - May 21 2012

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Physics and Astronomy (miscellaneous)

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