Sub-wavelength fluorescent polymer coatings to convert standard glass capillaries into robust microfluidic refractometric sensors

Date

2013

Authors

Rowland, K.
François, A.
Hoffmann, P.
Monro, T.

Editors

Miller, B.L.
Fauchet, P.M.

Advisors

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Type:

Conference paper

Citation

SPIE Proceedings, 2013; 8570

Statement of Responsibility

Kristopher J. Rowland, Alexandre François, Peter Hoffmann, Tanya M. Monro

Conference Name

Photonics West, BIOS (2013 : San Francisco, California)

Abstract

A capillary microresonator platform for label-free refractometric sensing is demonstrated by coating the interior of thick-walled silica capillaries with a sub-wavelength layer of high refractive index, dye-doped polymer. No intermediate processing, such as etching or tapering, of the capillary is required. Side illumination and detection of the polymer layer reveals a fluorescence spectrum that is periodically modulated by the presence of whispering gallery modes within the layer. The fabricated capillary resonators exhibited sensitivities to changes in internal refractive index of up to 29.44 nm/RIU, demonstrated by flowing through aqueous dilutions of glucose. Thick walled capillaries are used in order to readily allow interfacing with existing biological and chemical sensing and separation platforms such as capillary electrophoresis or gas chromatography where such capillaries are routinely used. The interior polymer coating method described here could enable the use of a wide range of materials for the design of optofluidic label-free sensors integrated with industry standard (bio)chemical analytical separation platforms.

School/Discipline

Dissertation Note

Provenance

Description

Also published as a book chapter: Frontiers in Biological Detection: From Nanosensors to Systems V / B. L. Miller, P. M. Fauchet (eds.): 85700E

Access Status

Rights

© 2013 SPIE

License

Grant ID

Call number

Persistent link to this record