DNA Self-Switchable Microlaser

Abstract

Advances in switchable microlasers have emerged as a building block with immense potential in controlling light–matter interactions and integrated photonics. Compared to artificially designed interfaces, a stimuli-responsive biointerface enables a higher level of functionalities and versatile ways of tailoring optical responses at the nanoscale. However, switching laser emission with biological recognition has yet to be addressed, particularly with reversibility and wavelength tunability over a broad spectral range. Here we demonstrate a self-switchable laser exploiting the biointerface between label-free DNA molecules and dye-doped liquid crystal matrix in a Fabry–Perot microcavity. Laser emission switching among different wavelengths was achieved by utilizing DNA conformation changes as the switching power, which alters the orientation of the liquid crystals. Our findings demonstrate that different concentrations of single-stranded DNA lead to different temporal switching of lasing wavelengths and intensities. The lasing wavelength could be reverted upon binding with the complementary sequence through DNA hybridization process. Both experimental and theoretical studies revealed that absorption strength is the key mechanism accounting for the laser shifting behavior. This study represents a milestone in achieving a biologically controlled laser, shedding light on the development of programmable photonic devices at the sub-nanoscale by exploiting the complexity and self-recognition of biomolecules.

Imaging-Based Optofluidic Biolaser Array Encapsulated with Dynamic Living Organisms

“…Optofluidics, which takes advantage of optics and microfluidics, has emerged as a building block in numerous fields over the past decade. − The ability to deliver light and fluids with microscopic precision has opened new applications in sensing and imaging. − For instance, flow cytometry, interferometry, and Raman spectroscopy based on optofluidics have already demonstrated their applicability in molecular and cellular analysis. − Recent progress in optofluidics has developed unique adaptability and regeneration of functional photonic systems, , such as energy devices, reconfigurable microphotonic devices, and optofluidic laser. ,− In particular, optofluidic biolasers have demonstrated several advantages over fluorescence in terms of signal amplification, narrow linewidth, and strong intensity, leading to orders of magnitude increase in detection sensitivity. Recently, a plethora of studies have shown the promise of biolaser from proteins, DNA, and cells to living organisms. ,,− Endowed by the unique properties of laser, optofluidic biolasers possess high sensitivity to subtle changes inside a cavity, including gain (dye) distribution and cavity structure. Various types of optical cavities and platforms have therefore been developed for bioanalysis.…”

Programmable Rainbow-Colored Optofluidic Fiber Laser Encoded with Topologically Structured Chiral Droplets

“…49 Previous studies have mentioned that doping dyes into liquid crystals forms a guest−host complex, in which the permanent dipole moment of LC molecules generates an induced dipole moment on the dye molecules (Figure 3a). 48,50,51 The alignment of dye molecules will thus change with the directional change of liquid crystal mesogens, resulting in changes of optical absorption. 52 In particular, stronger absorption occurs when the pitch size of CLC decreases with higher chiral dopant concentration, 53,54 leading to a variation of the gain profile of the dye-doped CLC droplets.…”

Topological Encoded Vector Beams for Monitoring Amyloid‐Lipid Interactions in Microcavity

“…Many types of optical microcavities, including FP cavity, whisperinggallery mode microcavity, plasmonics, and photonic crystals, have been widely employed for lasing and bioassay. [18,[60][61][62][63] In particular, FP cavity provides a whole-body interaction between the light and the gain medium, in contrast to the evanescent interaction in ring resonator sensors or gold plasmonic sensors. Limited by the resonance mechanism, observing transverse mode in plasmonics and ring resonators is nearly impossible.…”