Design, manufacture, and testing of a silicon nitride ring resonator-based biosensing platform

Monitoring Serum Spike Protein with Disposable Photonic Biosensors Following SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination

“…Here we incorporated ring resonator sensors, which consist of circular photonic waveguide structures, situated in close proximity (<1 µm) to a bus waveguide, that resonate at specific wavelengths based on their geometry and the refractive index of their environment, with a microfluidic platform that allows for rapid screening of patient fluid samples. When functionalized with specific antibodies (or antigens, when trying to detect specific antibodies circulating in the blood), they have been shown to sensitively detect specific protein markers under microfluidic flow [12]. Recently, our group has integrated these PICs into a disposable platform utilizing passive microfluidics [11].…”

A Photonic Biosensor-Integrated Tissue Chip Platform for Real-Time Sensing of Lung Epithelial Inflammatory Markers

“…The rings on each waveguide were designed to resonate around 1550 and 1551 nm, with a free spectral range of 2.2 nm. Waveguide dimensions and coupling gaps were optimized based on simulation and previous work 30,37 to provide the sharpest possible resonance peaks (i.e. highest possible quality factor, or Q) at these wavelengths, as narrow resonances allow for higher sensitivity measurements 31,47 .…”

“…A recent study found single-cell secretion of cytokines to be in the ng/mL range within a few tens of microns of the cell 36 , but levels near fully developed tissue cultures or TC systems are unknown, and represent an important target of study and further motivation for our work. In collaboration with AIM Photonics in Albany, NY, we have developed designs and manufacturing processes for silicon nitride photonic ring resonators, and have validated their use as biosensors 30,37,38 . Sensor evaluation relied on a pressure-driven microfluidic platform for precise delivery of analytes, using a craft cutter to cut layers of silicone and adhesive tape, and bonding them with UV/ozone treatment, described previously 39 .…”

“…A schematic of this platform is shown in Figure 1a. Photonic biosensors, and in particular devices based on photonic ring resonators, have been studied extensively due to their label-free nature and high sensitivity 30,31 . Ring resonator biosensors have also been commercialized (Genalyte, San Diego, CA; SiPhox, Burlington, MA, among others).…”

A photonic biosensor-integrated tissue chip platform for real-time sensing of lung epithelial inflammatory markers

“…Photonic biosensors, and in particular ring resonators, have been studied extensively due to their label-free nature and high sensitivity. 30,31 Ring resonator biosensors have also been commercialized (Genalyte, San Diego, CA; SiPhox, Burlington, MA, among others). Typically fabricated using standard CMOS processes in silicon or silicon nitride, ring resonators work by coupling light from a bus waveguide into adjacent rings producing resonances at certain wavelengths, according to the geometry of the ring and the effective refractive index of the medium in which the ring resonator sits.…”