Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and systems that use a photonic crystal (PC) for interference scattering microscopy. Incident light is directed onto a surface of the PC and couples into a photonic crystal guided resonance (PCGR) mode of the PC such that less than 1% of the incident light is transmitted through the PC as transmitted light. One or more particles adjacent to the surface of the PC scatter a portion of the light coupled into the PCGR mode as scattered light. An image comprising a pattern of constructive and destructive interference between the transmitted light and the scattered light is formed, and an image sensor may capture one or more image frames of the image Imaging processing of the one or more image frames can be used to identify at least one scattering center corresponding to at least one particle of the one or more particles.

Abstract: The current disclosure provides a simple single-step room temperature Activate Cleave and Count (ACC) assay coupled to Photonic Resonator Absorption Microscopy (PRAM) in an amplification-free approach. The assay, and associated system and method disclosed herein allow for detection of viral and bacterial pathogens as well disease such as cancer at the point of care.

Abstract: A sample carrier may include a sample preparation module and an amplification module. A sample mixes with a lysis medium and a nucleic acid amplification medium in the sample preparation module and then flows into a plurality of microfluidic chambers in the amplification module. The microfluidic chambers have disposed therein primers configured to initiate amplification of one or more target nucleic acid sequences corresponding to one or more pathogens. The sample carrier is inserted into an apparatus that includes a plurality of Sight sources and a camera. The light sources illuminate the microfluidic chambers with excitation light, a fluorophore emits fluorescence light indicative of nucleic acid amplification in response to the excitation-light, and the camera captures images of the microfluidic chambers. A target nucleic acid sequence in the sample is indicated by the images showing an increasing fluorescence in a microfluidic chamber that has the primers for that sequence.

Abstract: A digital assay for a micro RNA (miRNA) or other target analyte in a sample makes use of nanoparticles that absorb light at the resonant wavelength of a photonic crystal (PC). Such nanoparticles locally quench the resonant reflection of light from the PC when present on the surface of the PC. The nanoparticles are functionalized to specifically bind to the target analyte, and the PC surface is functionalized to specifically bind to the nanoparticles that have bound to the target analyte. The sample is exposed to the functionalized nanoparticles, and the individual nanoparticles bound to the PC surface can be identified and counted based on reduced intensity values in the reflected light from the PC. The number of bound nanoparticles that are counted in this way can be correlated to the abundance of the target analyte in the sample.

Abstract: Assays using nanoparticle probes can be used to detect a target oligonucleotide with digital resolution by measuring the peak wavelengths and/or peak intensities of resonantly reflected light from locations on the surface of a photonic crystal (PC). The PC is functionalized with a capture oligonucleotide that binds to a nanoparticle probe that has bound to the target analyte. The binding of the nanoparticle probe to the PC shifts the peak wavelength and reduces the peak intensity of the resonantly reflected light at the binding location. An example nanoparticle probe includes a metallic nanoparticle conjugated to a probe oligonucleotide bound to a protector oligonucleotide. The probe oligonucleotide includes a first portion complementary to the target oligonucleotide and a second portion complementary to the capture oligonucleotide.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes the design, fabrication, and demonstration of a compact spectroscopic analysis system that utilizes a linear variable filter chip attached directly over an image sensor array, and an integrated broadband LED illuminator that supplies light from the edge of the system to provide a low vertical dimension. The instrument is capable of accurately measuring the optical absorption spectra of colored liquids or the scattered spectra from solid objects that are placed in the illumination pathway. Due to the small vertical thickness of the system, the low cost of its components, and the accuracy with which it renders spectra in comparison to conventional spectrometers, we envision potential incorporation of the system into mobile communication devices, such as smartphones and tablets, as a means for providing a dedicated sensor for health diagnostic, environmental monitoring, and general-purpose color sensing applications.

Abstract: A digital assay for a micro RNA (miRNA) or other target analyte in a sample makes use of nanoparticles that absorb light at the resonant wavelength of a photonic crystal (PC). Such nanoparticles locally quench the resonant reflection of light from the PC when present on the surface of the PC. The nanoparticles are functionalized to specifically bind to the target analyte, and the PC surface is functionalized to specifically bind to the nanoparticles that have bound to the target analyte. The sample is exposed to the functionalized nanoparticles, and the individual nanoparticles bound to the PC surface can be identified and counted based on reduced intensity values in the reflected light from the PC. The number of bound nanoparticles that are counted in this way can be correlated to the abundance of the target analyte in the sample.

Abstract: A smartphone is optically coupled to an apparatus that can operate in multiple modes to perform transmission, reflectance, intensity, or scattered light spectroscopy on a sample provided, in an appropriately configured sample cartridge. The apparatus includes a first illumination optical path for illuminating the sample, with light from a light source, on the smartphone for transmission, reflectance, and scattered light spectroscopy. The apparatus also includes a second illumination optical path for illuminating the sample with light from a laser diode for intensity spectroscopy. The apparatus farther includes a collection optical path for collecting light from the sample in each of the modes. An image sensor on the smartphone receives the collected light via a diffraction grating to obtain a spectrum image. The first illumination optical path is substantially parallel to the collection optical path, whereas the second illumination optical path is substantially orthogonal to the collection path.

Abstract: A digital assay for a micro RNA (miRNA) or other target analyte in a sample makes use of nanoparticles that absorb light at the resonant wavelength of a photonic crystal (PC). Such nanoparticles locally quench the resonant reflection of light from the PC when present on the surface of the PC. The nanoparticles are functionalized to specifically bind to the target analyte, and the PC surface is functionalized to specifically bind to the nanoparticles that have bound to the target analyte. The sample is exposed to the functionalized nanoparticles, and the individual nanoparticles bound to the PC surface can be identified and counted based on reduced intensity values in the reflected light from the PC. The number of bound nanoparticles that are counted in this way can be correlated to the abundance of the target analyte in the sample.

Abstract: A smartphone is optically coupled to an apparatus that can operate in multiple modes to perform transmission, reflectance, intensity, or scattered light spectroscopy on a sample provided, in an appropriately configured sample cartridge. The apparatus includes a first illumination optical path for illuminating the sample, with light from a light source, on the smartphone for transmission, reflectance, and scattered light spectroscopy. The apparatus also includes a second illumination optical path for illuminating the sample with light from a laser diode for intensity spectroscopy. The apparatus farther includes a collection optical path for collecting light from the sample in each of the modes. An image sensor on the smartphone receives the collected light via a diffraction grating to obtain a spectrum image. The first illumination optical path is substantially parallel to the collection optical path, whereas the second illumination optical path is substantially orthogonal to the collection path.

Abstract: Photonic Resonator Outcoupler Microscopy (PROM) is a novel, label-free approach for dynamic, long-term, quantitative imaging of a sample on a surface of a photonic crystal (PC) biosensor, in which components of the sample outcouple photons from the resonant evanescent field, resulting in highly localized reductions of the reflected light intensity. By mapping changes in the resonant reflected peak intensity from the PC surface, components of a sample (e.g., focal adhesions) can be detected and dynamically tracked. To demonstrate the simplicity and utility of PROM for focal adhesion imaging, PROM images are compared with biosensor images of surface-bound dielectric permittivity and with fluorescence microscopy images of labeled adhesion molecules in dental stem cells. PROM can dynamically quantify the surface-attached cellular mass density and lateral dimensions of focal adhesion clusters.

Abstract: A sample carrier may include a sample preparation module and an amplification module. A sample mixes with a lysis medium and a nucleic acid amplification medium in the sample preparation module and then flows into a plurality of microfluidic chambers in the amplification module. The microfluidic chambers have disposed therein primers configured to initiate amplification of one or more target nucleic acid sequences corresponding to one or more pathogens. The sample carrier is inserted into an apparatus that includes a plurality of Sight sources and a camera. The light sources illuminate the microfluidic chambers with excitation light, a fluorophore emits fluorescence light indicative of nucleic acid amplification in response to the excitation-light, and the camera captures images of the microfluidic chambers. A target nucleic acid sequence in the sample is indicated by the images showing an increasing fluorescence in a microfluidic chamber that has the primers for that sequence.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes the design, fabrication, and demonstration of a compact spectroscopic analysis system that utilizes a linear variable filter chip attached directly over an image sensor array, and an integrated broadband LED illuminator that supplies light from the edge of the system to provide a low vertical dimension. The instrument is capable of accurately measuring the optical absorption spectra of colored liquids or the scattered spectra from solid objects that are placed in the illumination pathway. Due to the small vertical thickness of the system, the low cost of its components, and the accuracy with which it renders spectra in comparison to conventional spectrometers, we envision potential incorporation of the system into mobile communication devices, such as smartphones and tablets, as a means for providing a dedicated sensor for health diagnostic, environmental monitoring, and general-purpose color sensing applications.

Abstract: A digital assay for a micro RNA (miRNA) or other target analyte in a sample makes use of nanoparticles that absorb light at the resonant wavelength of a photonic crystal (PC). Such nanoparticles locally quench the resonant reflection of light from the PC when present on the surface of the PC. The nanoparticles are functionalized to specifically bind to the target analyte, and the PC surface is functionalized to specifically bind to the nanoparticles that have bound to the target analyte. The sample is exposed to the functionalized nanoparticles, and the individual nanoparticles bound to the PC surface can be identified and counted based on reduced intensity values in the reflected light from the PC. The number of bound nanoparticles that are counted in this way can be correlated to the abundance of the target analyte in the sample.

Abstract: Photonic Resonator Outcoupler Microscopy (PROM) is a novel, label-free approach for dynamic, long-term, quantitative imaging of a sample on a surface of a photonic crystal (PC) biosensor, in which components of the sample outcouple photons from the resonant evanescent field, resulting in highly localized reductions of the reflected light intensity. By mapping changes in the resonant reflected peak intensity from the PC surface, components of a sample (e.g., focal adhesions) can be detected and dynamically tracked. To demonstrate the simplicity and utility of PROM for focal adhesion imaging, PROM images are compared with biosensor images of surface-bound dielectric permittivity and with fluorescence microscopy images of labeled adhesion molecules in dental stem cells. PROM can dynamically quantify the surface-attached cellular mass density and lateral dimensions of focal adhesion clusters.

Abstract: A label-free biosensor detection arrangement incorporating an external cavity laser (ECL) includes a tunable lasing element (e.g. an antireflection coated laser diode or semiconductor optical amplifier) and a narrow bandwidth resonant reflectance filter as the wavelength-selective element for the tunable lasing element. A sample is deposited on the surface of the resonant reflectance filter containing a biological material. The wavelength emitted by the external cavity laser is continuously tunable by binding interactions between the biological material and the resonant reflectance filter or adsorption of the biological material present in the sample on resonant reflectance filter. The narrow bandwidth resonance reflectance filter can take the form of photonic crystal (PC), a Bragg stack, or a Brag fiber reflection filter.

Abstract: In one aspect, structures are provided comprising: a substrate having a first surface and a second surface; and a polymeric layer disposed on the first surface of the substrate, the polymeric layer comprising a polymer and a plurality of light-emitting nanocrystals; the polymeric layer having a patterned surface, the patterned surface having a patterned first region having a first plurality of recesses and a patterned second region having a second plurality of recesses, wherein the plurality of recesses in each region has a first periodicity in a first direction, and a second periodicity in a second direction which intersects the first direction, wherein the first periodicity of the first region is different from the first periodicity of the second region.

Abstract: Wave energy conversion to produce electricity uses wave-engaging articulated, forward and after barges connected to a center inertial barge. A damper plate attached to the central barge minimizes heaving to increase stability. The barges use composite materials, steel or other materials that can withstand the impact and wear caused by a corrosive weather environment. A movable ballast weight in each barge adjusts the mass moment of inertia, and changes the natural pitching frequency. Electrical energy is generated from the motions of the barges and the movement of the movable ballast weights being converted by linear induction motor/generators and/or Pelton Wheel hydraulic systems connected to electrical generators. A dynamic computer control system controls the energy generating system to keep the forward/after barges and the movable ballast moving in phase with the wave excitation force. During dangerous wave action, the system is submerged and then re-surfaced when the waves have subsided.

Abstract: A silicon-based photonic crystal includes a silicon substrate, a first dielectric with a grating structure formed therein, and a second dielectric with a higher index of refraction that covers at least a portion of the grating structure. The first dielectric can be formed on the silicon substrate, or a Fabry-Perot optical cavity can be formed between the silicon substrate and the first dielectric. An instrument can excite a fluorophore coupled to the photonic crystal by focusing collimated incident light that includes the fluorophore's excitation wavelength to a focal line on the surface of the photonic crystal such that the focal line is substantially parallel to the grating direction and can detect fluorescence radiation emitted by the fluorophore in response to the incident light. To provide for fluorescence enhancement, the excitation wavelength and/or emission wavelength of the fluorophore can couple to an optical resonance of the photonic crystal.

Abstract: Tubing such as clear plastic disposable tubing or glass tubing includes a photonic sensor formed in or placed within the tubing. The photonic sensors can take the form of photonic crystal sensors, distributed feedback laser sensors, and surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) sensors, including photonic crystal enhanced SERS sensors. Detection arrangements for the sensors are described. The invention has many applications including tubing used in hospital care (e.g., urinary catheters, intravenous fluid delivery tubing, tubing used in dialysis, e.g. heparin lines or blood tubing sets), food manufacturing, pharmaceutical manufacturing, water quality monitoring, and environmental monitoring.