Fiber-optic biosensor and biosensing methods

Abstract

A biosensor device that includes a module defining at least one microfluidic channel, an optical waveguide exposed along at least a portion of its length to fluid flow within the microfluidic channel, where a surface of the optical waveguide being prepared to bind a target biomarker, and an excitation source to couple an excitation wavelength of light into the optical waveguide. The device also includes a sensor for detecting emission light from the optical waveguide at an emission wavelength characteristic of binding of the target biomarker. Particular devices include multiple waveguides in multiple microfluidic channels. Particular devices include microfluidic channels with serpentine bump structures that aid molecular transport.

Description

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION AND PRIORITY CLAIM[0001]The application is a divisional application of and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §120 from prior application Ser. No. 11 / 355,467, which was filed on Feb. 16, 2006, now U.S. Pat. No. ______, and which claims benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119 of earlier filed provisional application serial number Ser. No. 60 / 653,543, filed Feb. 16, 2005, and is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 11 / 190,199, filed Jul. 26, 2005, and entitled “Enhancement of Sensitivity of Fluorophore Mediated Biosensing and Bioimaging,” which in turn claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119 of earlier filed provisional application Ser. No. 60 / 590,992, filed Jul. 26, 2004.STATEMENT OF GOVERNMENT INTEREST[0002]This invention was made with government support BES0330075 awarded by the National Science Foundation. The Government has certain rights in this invention.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0003]The field of the invention is biosensors. A particular application o...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The invention is a biosensor device that uses microfluidic channels and an optical waveguide to detect target biomarkers. The device includes a module with a microfluidic channel and an optical waveguide. The waveguide is exposed along its length and a surface is prepared to bind a target biomarker. An excitation source introduces light into the optical waveguide, and a sensor detects the emitted light. The device can also have multiple waveguides and microfluidic channels with serpentine bump structures to aid molecular transport. A convective flow can be used to expose samples and reagents to the optical waveguides, optimizing sensing and shortening assay times. Fluorescence enhancers can be added to enhance fluorescence when the target sensing ranges of a particular biomarker are low. A nanometal particle can be placed at a specific distance from a fluorophore to enhance its fluorescence emission.

Problems solved by technology

When the haemostatic system in human body is unregulated, due to either coagulation problem, or more commonly, due to impaired capacity of natural anticoagulant mechanism caused by anticoagulant deficiencies, the body has a predisposition to fatal venous thrombo-embolism.

Although very accurate, it is time-consuming (hours to days), expensive, and technically complicated.

However, they usually provide only qualitative single biomarker information and most of the assay kits are relatively expensive, and may only be used a single time.

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