Optofluidic Bio-Lasers: Bridging Photonics, Nanotechnology and Biology
Event details
| Date | 05.11.2014 |
| Hour | 09:00 |
| Speaker | Prof. Xudong Fan, University of Michigan |
| Location | |
| Category | Conferences - Seminars |
Abstract:
The optofluidic laser is an emerging technology that integrates microfluidics, miniaturized laser cavity, and laser gain medium in liquid, thus well positioned to interface photonics, biology, and nanotechnology. Presently, the optofluidic laser is being investigated for two forefront applications: novel photonic devices that can be controlled by micro/nanofluidics and/or biochemical processes, and biochemical sensing that takes advantage of its unique biocompatible aqueous environment and signal amplification mechanism. This presentation focuses on the latter one. In an optofluidic bio-laser, biochemically related materials (such as dyes and fluorescent proteins) are used as the gain medium and the biological processes (such as DNA hybridization, protein conformational change, etc.) take place inside a laser cavity. Instead of fluorescence, laser emission is used as the sensing signal.
According to the laser theory, the laser intensity is highly dependent upon the laser gain. A small perturbation in the laser gain medium modulated by biological processes will lead to a significantly change in the laser output. Therefore, by detecting or monitoring the laser output change, the underlying biological process can be sensitively analyzed.To date, the optofluidic bio-laser has been employed in DNA and protein detection, monitoring of biomolecular conformational changes, and cell analysis, showing capabilities unmatched by fluorescence based detection. Various biochemically related materials, including dyes, quantum dots, luciferins, Vitamins, enzyme-activated substrates, and fluorescent proteins, have been shown to be a suitable candidate for the laser gain medium. Different laser cavity designs, such as optical ring resonators, Fabry-Pérot cavities, and distributed feedback gratings, have also been explored to improve the laserperformance.
Despite the above achievement, the optofluidic bio-laser is still in its infancy. Tremendous work is needed to bring this new technology to practical use. It is hopeful that this presentation will stimulate interest in and further investigation of the optofluidic bio-laser among the photonic and biochemical sensing communities.
Bio:
Prof. Fan obtained B.S. and M.S. from Peking University (China) in 1991 and 1994, respectively, and Ph.D. in physics andoptics from Oregon Center for Optics at the University of Oregon (USA) in 2000. Between 2000 and 2004, he was a project leader at 3M Company on fiber optics and photonic sensing devices for biomedical applications. In August of 2004, he joined the Department of Biological Engineering at the University of Missouri as an Assistant Professor and was early-promoted to Associate Professor in 2009. In January of 2010, he joined the Biomedical Engineering Department at the University of Michigan. In 2014, he was early-promoted to Professor and waselected as Fellow of Optical Society of America.
Prof. Fan’s research includes photonic bio/chemical sensors, micro/nano-fluidics, optofluidics, and nano-photonics for disease diagnostics and bio/chemical molecule analysis. In particular,
(1) ultrasensitive optical label-free biosensors;
(2) microfluidic optomechanics;
(3) optofluidic lasers;
(4) optofluidic ELISA development for sensitive and rapid biomolecular analysis;
(5) multi-dimensional micro-gas chromatography instrument development for portable and wearable vapor detection; and
(6) study and development ofnovel optical and non-optical sensors.
He has over 100 peer-reviewed publications and approximately 20 issued/pending patents. Presently, Dr. Fan serves as Associate Editor of Optics Express, responsible for optical biological and chemical sensors and optofluidics, and as a chair and organizer of numerous conferences for OSA, SPIE, and MRS. He is a recipient of 3M Non-Tenured Faculty Award, American Chemical Society Petroleum Research Fund Award for Young Faculty, the Wallace H. Coulter Early Career Award (Phase I and Phase II), and the National Science Foundation CAREER Award. His research has been supported by the National Science Foundation, National Institute of Health, Environmental Protection Agency, private foundations, and industrial companies.
The optofluidic laser is an emerging technology that integrates microfluidics, miniaturized laser cavity, and laser gain medium in liquid, thus well positioned to interface photonics, biology, and nanotechnology. Presently, the optofluidic laser is being investigated for two forefront applications: novel photonic devices that can be controlled by micro/nanofluidics and/or biochemical processes, and biochemical sensing that takes advantage of its unique biocompatible aqueous environment and signal amplification mechanism. This presentation focuses on the latter one. In an optofluidic bio-laser, biochemically related materials (such as dyes and fluorescent proteins) are used as the gain medium and the biological processes (such as DNA hybridization, protein conformational change, etc.) take place inside a laser cavity. Instead of fluorescence, laser emission is used as the sensing signal.
According to the laser theory, the laser intensity is highly dependent upon the laser gain. A small perturbation in the laser gain medium modulated by biological processes will lead to a significantly change in the laser output. Therefore, by detecting or monitoring the laser output change, the underlying biological process can be sensitively analyzed.To date, the optofluidic bio-laser has been employed in DNA and protein detection, monitoring of biomolecular conformational changes, and cell analysis, showing capabilities unmatched by fluorescence based detection. Various biochemically related materials, including dyes, quantum dots, luciferins, Vitamins, enzyme-activated substrates, and fluorescent proteins, have been shown to be a suitable candidate for the laser gain medium. Different laser cavity designs, such as optical ring resonators, Fabry-Pérot cavities, and distributed feedback gratings, have also been explored to improve the laserperformance.
Despite the above achievement, the optofluidic bio-laser is still in its infancy. Tremendous work is needed to bring this new technology to practical use. It is hopeful that this presentation will stimulate interest in and further investigation of the optofluidic bio-laser among the photonic and biochemical sensing communities.
Bio:
Prof. Fan obtained B.S. and M.S. from Peking University (China) in 1991 and 1994, respectively, and Ph.D. in physics andoptics from Oregon Center for Optics at the University of Oregon (USA) in 2000. Between 2000 and 2004, he was a project leader at 3M Company on fiber optics and photonic sensing devices for biomedical applications. In August of 2004, he joined the Department of Biological Engineering at the University of Missouri as an Assistant Professor and was early-promoted to Associate Professor in 2009. In January of 2010, he joined the Biomedical Engineering Department at the University of Michigan. In 2014, he was early-promoted to Professor and waselected as Fellow of Optical Society of America.
Prof. Fan’s research includes photonic bio/chemical sensors, micro/nano-fluidics, optofluidics, and nano-photonics for disease diagnostics and bio/chemical molecule analysis. In particular,
(1) ultrasensitive optical label-free biosensors;
(2) microfluidic optomechanics;
(3) optofluidic lasers;
(4) optofluidic ELISA development for sensitive and rapid biomolecular analysis;
(5) multi-dimensional micro-gas chromatography instrument development for portable and wearable vapor detection; and
(6) study and development ofnovel optical and non-optical sensors.
He has over 100 peer-reviewed publications and approximately 20 issued/pending patents. Presently, Dr. Fan serves as Associate Editor of Optics Express, responsible for optical biological and chemical sensors and optofluidics, and as a chair and organizer of numerous conferences for OSA, SPIE, and MRS. He is a recipient of 3M Non-Tenured Faculty Award, American Chemical Society Petroleum Research Fund Award for Young Faculty, the Wallace H. Coulter Early Career Award (Phase I and Phase II), and the National Science Foundation CAREER Award. His research has been supported by the National Science Foundation, National Institute of Health, Environmental Protection Agency, private foundations, and industrial companies.
Practical information
- General public
- Free
Organizer
- Carole Berthet, Bureau du doyen
Contact
- Carole Berthet, Bureau du doyen