Advanced 2D-material integrated photonics technologies for bio sensing

Project Information

NanoIP-BioS

Grant agreement ID: 891685

DOI

10.3030/891685

Project closed

EC signature date 21 April 2020

Start date 6 July 2021

End date 5 July 2023

Funded under

• EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Total cost

€ 224 933,76

EU contribution

€ 224 933,76

Coordinated by

ASTON UNIVERSITY
United Kingdom

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - NanoIP-BioS (Advanced 2D-material integrated photonics technologies for bio sensing)

Reporting period: 2021-07-06 to 2023-07-05

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

Problem Statement:
Rapid industrialization has led to widespread pollution, impacting human life profoundly. Heavy metal ions permeate the environment through various means: air, water, and soil. The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) estimates lead exposure alone causes 540,000 deaths and 13.9 million years of healthy life lost globally. Hence, early detection of toxic heavy metals is vital.Traditional detection methods suffer from laborious sample prep, bulky equipment, and slow data processing. There is an urgent need for innovative, rapid, and sensitive approaches to overcome these limitations and address heavy metal exposure's health risks.Photonics technology, particularly photonic sensing, offers advantages for in-situ, real-time, multiplex analysis in diverse bioapplications. This project carried out research on fiber optical sensing for light-matter interactions aiming at heavy metal detection and explored novel microstructures, mechanical adjustments, and 2D-nanomaterial coatings for enhanced sensitivity. These include tilted fiber gratings (TFGs) for highly sensitivity to surrounding changes and 2D materials.

Societal impact:
Multiplexed heavy metal detection remains a challenge due to flexibility, specificity, sensitivity, and selectivity constraints. Addressing this challenge requires continuous research and this contribution of this project will produce significant societal impacts including food security and environment to name a few only. For environment , this technology can help safeguard ecosystems, wildlife, and public health by providing early warnings of environmental hazards and ensuring regulatory compliance. For food safety, thie technology will enhance food safety by detecting contaminants, pathogens, and spoilage indicators in food products. This ensures the production of safer and healthier food, reducing the risk of foodborne illnesses and promoting public well-being.

Objectives:
NanoIP-BioS aims to:
1. Enhance photonics and biophotonics expertise.
2. Develop novel photo-bio architectures for improved light-matter interaction.
3. Integrate advanced 2D materials with photonic components.
4. Enable ultrahigh sensitivity, selectivity, label-free, real-time, rapid detection techniques.
5. Implement biochemical detection for environmental monitoring and protection.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

To achieve our research objectives, we conducted the following investigations:
1. Innovative Optical Fiber Sensor: We explored a novel optical fiber sensor, the ring-pattern liquid-filled photonic crystal fiber (R-LPCF). By strategically filling specific holes, such as those adjacent to the core, with high-index inclusions, we achieved a broad spectral operation range. This design introduced bandgap-like modes with significantly lower confinement losses compared to similar structures. Additionally, the R-LPCF's thermal tunability, when filled with index-matching liquid, allowed for guided bandwidth switching from the 1.5-µm-band to the 1.3-µm-band. Structural parameters for two commercial photonic crystal fibers were quantified to validate our approach.
2. Magnetic Field Measurement with MPMs: We developed magnetic-based polydimethylsiloxane microspheres (MPMs) and explored their potential for magnetic field measurement. MPMs were created by incorporating uniform Mn3O4 nanocrystals into a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) matrix, forming a chain of microspheres on a fiber taper through self-assembly. These MPMs acted as optical resonators, displaying high-Q whispering gallery modes in the 1310 nm band. Resonance wavelengths in the WGM spectra correlated with magnetic field strength, as mechanical deformations in MPMs induced shifts. Optimizing sensitivity and range, we achieved a sensitivity of 101.9 pm/mT and a range up to 8 mT with a 270 μm diameter MPM. Excellent long-term stability was demonstrated after two weeks of storage.
3. Temperature-Insensitive Fiber Refractometer: We proposed and experimentally demonstrated a temperature-insensitive fiber refractometer using a simple single-mode–multimode–single-mode fiber optic setup. This design incorporated a segment of D-shaped no-core fiber (Ds-NCF) partially coated with a thin polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) film layer. Leveraging the opposite thermo-optic coefficients (TOC) of silica and PDMS, we achieved a compact structure with near-zero temperature dependence. This refractometer offered cost-effective simplicity and competitive refractive index sensitivities, reaching 140.1 nm/RIU in the 1.32 to 1.37 range and 114.7 nm/RIU in the 1.38 to 1.44 range, suitable for various applications, including chemical and biological detection.
4. Curvature Sensor Development: Our experimental research introduced a curvature sensor by enclosing a coreless D-shaped optical fiber in a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) film. This innovative sensor achieved highly sensitive curvature measurements, with sensitivities of 2.04 dB/m-1 (X+) and 2.66 dB/m-1 (X-). Notably, the proposed sensor exhibited minimal temperature dependence, with a coefficient of only 0.025 dB/ºC.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

1. Advancements in Photonic Devices and Sensing Technologies
We have introduced cutting-edge photonic devices and innovative sensing technologies, not only comprehending the underlying principles but also exploration of practical applications.. Examples include the integration of graphene into excessively tilted fiber gratings (TFGs) and the implementation of in-line Mach-Zehnder interferometers (MZI) using D-shaped fiber. The outcomes of this project extend beyond the boundaries of biology, chemistry, and medicine, as they also have the potential to revolutionize fields such as environmental monitoring, food safety, industrial processes, and aerospace technology.

2. Revolutionizing Sensor Technology
This project has yielded novel sensors, such as TFG-based glucose sensors, which represent a significant leap forward in sensor capabilities. These sensors are equipped for real-time, remote operation and offer unparalleled precision. Their impact is far-reaching, as they play a pivotal role in enhancing food safety measures , enabling more precise biomedical diagnostics and monitoring of environmental pollutions.

3. Expanding the Horizon of Bio-Photonics Technology
The achievements made in this project are the result of relentless research and innovation endeavors. The primary objective has been to fine-tune bio-photonics technology, making it adaptable to a broader spectrum of applications in promising areas like early ion detection, food security, and environmental monitoring. This ongoing pursuit of excellence has opened new frontiers in leveraging photonics for addressing critical global challenges.

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