Silicon photonic waveguide biosensor configurations

a biosensor and photonic waveguide technology, applied in the field of sensor technology, can solve the problems of current biosensor technology suffering from fragility and scarcity of equipment, equipment that needs delicate handling by technicians, and less than desirable sensitivities of current technologies

Inactive Publication Date: 2010-07-01
NAT RES COUNCIL OF CANADA
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The solution provides a robust and sensitive method for detecting molecular interactions in real-time, overcoming the limitations of existing technologies by using silicon-on-insulator waveguides and configurations that enhance sensitivity and ease of implementation.

Problems solved by technology

Unfortunately, current biosensor technology suffers from a fragility and scarcity of the equipment.
Current sensor technology, such as surface plasmon resonance (SPR), is quite well-known but the equipment requires delicate handling by technicians.
Furthermore, such current technologies have sensitivities that are less then desirable.
With SPR, the sensitivity of the equipment is limited by the short propagation length of the plasmon.

Method used

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  • Silicon photonic waveguide biosensor configurations
  • Silicon photonic waveguide biosensor configurations
  • Silicon photonic waveguide biosensor configurations

Examples

Experimental program
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Embodiment Construction

[0078]Referring to FIG. 1, a sensor 10 according to one aspect of the invention is illustrated. The sensor 10 has an optical waveguide 20 (a sensor element) on top of a silicon dioxide layer 30. The silicon dioxide layer 20 (a lower cladding layer) is sandwiched between the waveguide 20 and a silicon substrate 40.

[0079]Referring to FIG. 2, an end cut-away view of the sensor 10 is illustrated. In use, from FIG. 2, a solution 50 (which may be water based) is adjacent the waveguide 20. The 50 contains the chemical or biochemical materials whose interactions are to be monitored or detected.

[0080]The sensor detects molecular interactions (or the presence of specific molecules) by having light passed through the sensor. The sensor detects the binding of specific, target molecules to receptor molecules on the waveguide surface. By detecting this binding, the presence of the target molecules is determined. The receptor molecules are previously attached (perhaps as a layer) to the waveguide ...

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Abstract

Methods and devices relating to sensors and sensor blocks for use in detecting and monitoring molecular interactions. A silicon waveguide sensing element is provided along with a layer of silicon. A silicon oxide layer is also provided between the waveguide element and the layer of silicon. The sensing element is adjacent to an aqueous solution in which the molecular interactions are occurring. A light beam travelling in the silicon waveguide creates an evanescent optical field on the surface of the sensing element adjacent to the boundary between the sensing element and the aqueous medium. Molecular interactions occurring on this surface affect the intensity or the phase of the light beam travelling through the waveguide by changing the effective refractive index of the medium. By measuring the effect on the intensity, phase, or speed of the light beam, the molecular interactions can be detected and monitored in real time. Various configurations using this sensor technology is also disclosed.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates to sensor technology. More specifically, the present invention relates to sensors for detecting and quantifying molecular interactions by determining how much of an effect these molecular interactions have on characteristics of light passing through a waveguide adjacent an aqueous medium where these interactions are occurring.BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION[0002]The recent increase in interest in and funding for the biochemical and pharmaceutical fields has created a need for more sensitive sensors that can detect and quantify molecular interactions. The detection of these molecular interactions determine whether chemical and biological processes are at work and, as such, are key to finding new and more effective pharmaceuticals.[0003]Unfortunately, current biosensor technology suffers from a fragility and scarcity of the equipment. Current sensor technology, such as surface plasmon resonance (SPR), is quite well-known but the eq...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & AuthorityApplications(United States)
IPC IPC(8): G01B9/02G02B6/00
CPCG01N21/7703G01N21/7746G01N2021/7779G01N2021/7783G02B6/12007G02B6/2813
InventorXU, DAN-XIADENSMORE, ADAMDELAGE, ANDRECHEBEN, PAVELJANZ, SIEGFRIED
OwnerNAT RES COUNCIL OF CANADA