Functionalization of optofluidic structures

Junior Research Group of Dr. Timo Mappes

Functionalization of optofluidic structures

The goal of this scientific project is the functionalization of an all-polymeric photonic lab-on-chip (LoC) sensor system to generate enhanced sensitivity for selected analyte substances. This measure can be carried out e.g. by local deposition of biological or chemical receptor molecules inside the sensor’s optofluidic interface – the site where the probing light and the fluidic analyte interact. Defined receptors will exhibit distinct coupling affinity to specific counterpart particles/molecules of the analyte, immobilizing them in the optofluidic detection zone. Extended exposition to the probing light results in advanced sensitivity. Engineering this functionalization procedure potentially offers the realization of photonic LoC sensor systems with distinguished selectivity, which might be highly interesting for biological-, environmental-, safety- and life-science-based applications.