https://doi.org/10.1140/epjst/e2014-02247-2
Regular Article
Development of a fully automated in-vitro diagnostics system based on low-Q whispering gallery modes in fluorescent microparticles
1 NanoBioAnalytics – Dr. Michael Himmelhaus, Max-Planck-Str. 3, 12489 Berlin, Germany
2 Surflay Nanotec GmbH, Max-Planck-Str. 3, 12489 Berlin, Germany
a e-mail: m.h@nanobioanalytics.com
Received: 11 June 2014
Revised: 4 August 2014
Published online: 6 October 2014
During the past decade, whispering gallery modes (WGMs) have been proven to enable highly sensitive microscopic optical sensors capable of in-vitro label-free bio-detection under physiological conditions. While the basic aspects of this quite novel and promising approach have been explored, it still lacks implementation at a level that would effectively rival well-established state-of-the-art biosensor systems, such as Surface Plasmon Resonance sensors and Quartz Crystal Microbalance.
In this work, we present a fully automated in-vitro diagnostics system based on low-Q whispering gallery modes designed to accept this challenge. Starting from the principles of low-Q WGM sensing, various aspects and intricacies of implementing a fully fletched in-vitro diagnostics system are discussed with special foci on WGM analysis and numerical evaluation, sensor conditioning, fluid handling, and control of the overall device. First results of the performance of the system are presented and interpreted in view of the method's potential.
© EDP Sciences, Springer-Verlag, 2014
