Multiplexed detection of lectins using integrated glycan-coated microring resonators.

We present the systematic design, fabrication, and characterization of a multiplexed label-free lab-on-a-chip biosensor using silicon nitride (SiN) microring resonators. Sensor design is addressed through a systematic approach that enables optimizing the sensor according to the specific noise characteristics of the setup. We find that an optimal 6 dB undercoupled resonator consumes 40% less power in our platform to achieve the same limit-of-detection as the conventional designs using critically coupled resonators that have the maximum light-matter interaction. We lay out an optimization framework that enables the generalization of our method for any type of optical resonator and noise characteristics. The device is fabricated using a CMOS-compatible process, and an efficient swabbing lift-off technique is introduced for the deposition of the protective oxide layer. This technique increases the lift-off quality and yield compared to common lift-off methods based on agitation. The complete sensor system, including microfluidic flow cell and surface functionalization with glycan receptors, is tested for the multiplexed detection of Aleuria Aurantia Lectin (AAL) and Sambucus Nigra Lectin (SNA). Further analysis shows that the sensor limit of detection is 2 × 10(-6) RIU for bulk refractive index, 1 pg/mm(2) for surface-adsorbed mass, and ∼ 10 pM for the glycan/lectins studied here.

An efficient technique for the reduction of wavelength noise in resonance-based integrated photonic sensors.

A systematic study of the limit of detection (LOD) in resonance-based silicon photonic lab-on-chip sensors is presented. The effects of the noise, temperature fluctuations, and the fundamental thermodynamic limit of the resonator are studied. Wavelength noise is identified as the dominant source of noise, and an efficient technique for suppressing this noise is presented. A large ensemble of statistical data from the transmission measurements in a laser-scanning configuration on five silicon nitride (SiN) microrings is collected to discuss and identify the sources of noise. The experimental results show that the LOD is limited by a 3σ wavelength noise of ∼1.8 pm. We present a sub-periodic interferometric technique, relying on an inverse algorithm, to suppress this noise. Our technique reduces the wavelength noise by more than one order of magnitude to an ensemble average of 3σ = 120 fm, for a resonator quality factor (Q) of about 5 × 10(4) without any temperature stabilization or cooling. This technique is readily amenable to on-chip integration to realize highly accurate and low-cost lab-on-chip sensors.

Optimum waist of localized basis functions in truncated series employed in some optical applications.

The waist parameter is a particularly important factor for functional expansion in terms of localized orthogonal basis functions. We present a systematic approach to evaluate an asymptotic trend for the optimum waist parameter in truncated orthogonal localized bases satisfying several general conditions. This asymptotic behavior is fully introduced and verified for Hermite-Gauss and Laguerre-Gauss bases. As a special case of importance, a good estimate for the optimum waist in projection of discontinuous profiles on localized basis functions is proposed. The importance and application of the proposed estimation is demonstrated via several optical applications.