COMPACT OPTICAL CHARACTERIZATION PLATFORM FOR DETECTION OF BIO-MOLECULES IN FLUIDIC AND AEROSOL SAMPLES

An optical characterization unit based on fluorescence spectroscopy-on-a-chip is described. It comprises a compact fluidic platform that is integrated onto a chip-size spectrometer. The analyte is continuously excited within a novel waveguide. Fluorescence spectra are recorded as the analyte traverse the detection area. In order to achieve a strong interaction between excitation light and analyte we use an anti-resonant waveguide, in which the light is guided within the target-containing medium, thereby enabling a continuous excitation of a large volume. The excitation light is guided in the lower-refractive-index fluid when the light is coupled into the waveguide at an appropriate angle. Compact spectrometers can be integrated along the fluidic channel. The spectrometers are composed of a detector array which is coated with a linear variable band-pass filter. The filter converts the spectral fluorescence information into a spatially dependent signal that is analyzed by the detector array. These chip-size spectrometers are especially applicable for characterization of moving analytes.