Integration of New Hybrid Materials Containing Biomolecules for the Fabrication of Optical Sensor

SystemsN. Peyghambarian, M. Descour,

G.E. Jabbour, S. Honkanen, S.B. Mendes College of Optical Sciences, The University of

Arizona

B. Dunn, and J. Zink Department of Materials Science and Engineering,

and Chemistry Department, UCLA NSF: DMR 0099862

We are developing integrated optical devices for highly sensitive detection of biomolecular materials by exploring their unique spectroscopic features. Ultimate optical sensitivity for probing biomolecular films is obtained when the analytical optical beam is confined into a single-mode structure as it provides for an enhanced optical interaction with surface-adsorbed analytes. Limit of detection, which is a critical characteristic of sensor devices, benefits directly from an enhanced sensitivity. In addition to sensitivity, limit of detection is also dictated by the noise present in the device signal: a low background noise translates into a much improved limit of detection. For this purpose, we have designed, fabricated, and successfully tested integrated optical waveguides with two optical channels, where one channel is exposed to the analytes to be probed and the other channel is used for eliminating any noise present in the device (e.g. due to source and/or coupling fluctuations). Top on the right, we schematically present the developed dual-channel integrated optical waveguide sensor, and on the bottom we show experimental results demonstrating the much improved signal-to-noise ratio when operating under the dual-channel waveguide configuration. A detection limit of less than 0.1 pmol/cm2 was measured for a protein film composed of horse heart cytochrome-c molecules that were electrostatically adsorbed onto the waveguide surface from a phosphate buffer solution. The wavelength of the probing laser beam was chosen at 532 nm to match the absorption band of oxidized cyt c.

Improvements in Limit of Detection with the Novel Dual-Channel

Integrated Optical Waveguide Sensor

Dual-Channel Integrated Optical Waveguide Sensor

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Integration of New Hybrid Materials Containing Biomolecules for the Fabrication of Optical Sensor Systems

N. Peyghambarian, M. Descour, G. E. Jabbour, S. Honkanen, S.B. MendesCollege of Optical Sciences, The University of Arizona

B. Dunn and J. ZinkDepartment of Materials Science and Engineering, and Chemistry Department, UCLA

NSF: DMR 0099862

University of Arizona – Daughters on Campus Day, K-12 Outreach Program, 2005

Education Five Graduate students and two postdoctoral associates are directly involved in the project

Outreach Activities Pre-College Outreach Activity: Diné Community College in Tsaile, AZ - Navajo Reservation, Two graduate students taught basic science and math classes for six weeks in the college preparatory Upward Bound Program - Summer of 2005 K-12 Outreach Activity: Elementary School age girls learn about basic optics by making kaleidoscopes at the University of Arizona’s “Daughters on Campus Day” – April 2005 K-12 Outreach Activity: Participated in the annual Tech Fair at the predominately Hispanic Desert View High in Tucson, AZ where students were given information on degree programs in Optical Sciences at the University of Arizona – October 2004

Diné Community College Students, Tsaile, AZNavajo Nation, Native American Upward Bound Outreach Program, 2005