Nano-photonics Based Bio-Sensors Integrated Nanophotonics & Biosensing Systems, Prof. Hatice Altug, ECE

Project Description: Nano-photonic bio-sensors have applications in Life-Science (Proteomics for cancer and Alzheimer’s detection); in Bio-defense (against infectious diseases and viral out-breaks), and in Pharmacology (drug/vaccine discovery). The immediate challenge is to design, fabricate and test nano-structures that manipulate light on a bio-chip to localize light below sub-diffraction limit & enhance the field, increase light-molecule interaction, and result in eventual compact and portable devices for point-of-care diagnostics. We are building a variety of resonators (nano-holes, photonic crystals, and nano-antennas) that enhance the fields and light-molecule interactions. These sensors promise femto-molar sensitivity with label-free detection, and on-chip integration with microfluidics for point of care applications. This work proceeds with theoretical calculations, clean-room design and fabrication and measurements of the effectiveness of the resonant structures.

The Experience for the RET teachers: The RET participants will work in a lab setting and also in the clean room facilities of the Optical Processing Facility. They will observe and participate in the design of nano- structures, and in the testing of these structures and their micro-fluidic systems.

Supporting personnel: Prof. Hatice Altug, ECE

Website Phone number: (617) 358-4769 Location: PHO 825 Associated faculty: Altug

The capability to confine and manipulate photons at nanometer-length scales can open up unprecedented opportunities both in the fields of classical and quantum information processing, as well as in fundamental life sciences. Our group is developing nanophotonic devices for optical communications and on-chip biosensing. For communication applications, we are developing ultrafast lasers, ultra-efficient light emitting diodes and photonic crystal devices that can slow down the light. For biotechnology applications, we are using plasmonic nanostructures and photonic crystal cavities for realization of high-throughput, ultra sensitive and label free biosensors. To accomplish our goals, we are developing new computational modeling and advanced nanofabrication techniques including nano/bio-patterning and microfluidics. Our biosafety level-2 lab is capable of cell culturing and includes a modified AFM for surface functionalization. Our lab also houses state-of the art optical measurement equipments and computational clusters.