ABSTRACT
A multifunctional lab-on-a-chip platform for spectroscopic analysis of liquid samples based on an optofluidic jet waveguide is reported. The optofluidic detection scheme is achieved through the total internal reflection arising in a liquid jet of only 150 µm diameter, leading to highly efficient signal excitation and collection. This results in an optofluidic chip with an alignment-free spectroscopic detection scheme, which avoids any background from the sample container. This platform has been designed for multiwavelength fluorescence and Raman spectroscopy. The chip integrates a recirculation system that reduces the required sample volume. The evaluation of the device performance has been accomplished by means of fluorescence measurements performed on eosin Y in water solutions, achieving a limit of detection of 33 pM. The sensor has been applied in Raman spectroscopy of water-ethanol solutions, leading to a limit of detection of 0.18%. As additional application, analysis of riboflavin using fluorescence detection demonstrates the possibility of detecting this vitamin at the 560 pM level (0.21 ng l-1). Although measurements have been performed by means of a compact and low-cost spectrometer, in both cases the micro-jet optofluidic chip achieved similar performances if not better than high-end benchtop based laboratory equipment. This approach paves the way towards portable lab-on-a-chip devices for high sensitivity environmental and biochemical sensing, using optical spectroscopy.
Subject(s)
Lab-On-A-Chip Devices , Microfluidic Analytical Techniques/methods , Microscopy, Fluorescence/methods , Spectrum Analysis, Raman/methods , Eosine Yellowish-(YS)/chemistry , Limit of Detection , Microfluidic Analytical Techniques/instrumentation , Microscopy, Fluorescence/instrumentation , Models, Chemical , Riboflavin/analysis , Spectrum Analysis, Raman/instrumentationABSTRACT
In the present work, the pyro-electrohydrodynamic technique was used for the realization of tunable-size microlens arrays. Poly(methyl methacrylate) dissolved in different solvent mixtures was used as the polymeric material for the realization of the microstructures. By controlling the experimental parameters and in particular, the volume of the drop reservoir, graded-size square arrays of tens of microlenses with focal length in the range 1.5-3 mm were produced. Moreover, the optical quality and geometrical features were investigated by profilometric and interferometric analysis.
ABSTRACT
The investigation of a method for fabricating microlenses by a nozzle-free inkjet printing approach is reported. The new method, based on a pyroelectrohydrodynamic mechanism, is also able to dispense viscous liquids and to draw liquid phase drops directly from the reservoir. Specifically, by dispensing optical grade polymer dissolved in different solvent mixtures, microlenses were printed with a pattern defined directly through this deposition method. The reliability of the microlenses and the tunability of their focal properties were demonstrated through profilometric and inteferometric analyses.
