Highly Sensitive Cell Concentration Detection by Resonant Optical Tunneling Effect

Aoqun Jian, Lu Zou, Gang Bai, Qianqian Duan, Yixia Zhang, Qianwu Zhang, Shengbo Sang, Xuming Zhang

Research output: Journal article publicationJournal articleAcademic researchpeer-review

10 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

This paper presents an original design for a volume refractive index (RI) sensor for cell concentration detection based on the unique resonant optical tunneling effect (ROTE). In this design, the solution sample is introduced into the ROTE resonant cavity, whose reflection spectrum presents a large shift of its resonant dip in response to the tiny change of the solution RI. Performance calibration using the polystyrene particle solution indicates that the sensitivity is 19,000 nm/RIU and the total Q factor is 620. Experiments with hepatoma cells have obtained sensitivity values as high as 2.53 nm/(amol/ml) and a detection limit of 1.2 × 105 cells/ml. Compared with previously reported optical cell sensors, this original work implements the ROTE mechanism for the first time and presents superior device performance. Thus, the proposed design has a high potential for use in biomedical applications, such as drug discovery, cell research, and medical diagnoses.

Original languageEnglish
Article number8675339
Pages (from-to)2800-2806
Number of pages7
JournalJournal of Lightwave Technology
Volume37
Issue number11
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jun 2019

Keywords

  • Cell concentration
  • figure of merit
  • optical biosensor
  • resonant optical tunneling effect

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics

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