Title :
Integrated optical Mach-Zehnder biosensor
Author :
Luff, B.J. ; Wilkinson, James S. ; Piehler, Jacob ; Hollenbach, Uwe ; Ingenhoff, Jan ; Fabricius, Norbert
Author_Institution :
Optoelectron. Res. Centre, Southampton Univ., UK
fDate :
4/1/1998 12:00:00 AM
Abstract :
We present measurements on biomolecular surface multilayers using an integrated optical sensor based on the Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI). The sensor design is unique in that it incorporates a three-waveguide coupler structure at the interferometer output which gives advantages in terms of signal referencing and in establishing and maintaining a sensitive operating point. The sensor performance is characterized with respect to bulk superstrate index and by the formation of multiple protein adlayers using a biotin-avidin-based biochemical system. The detection limit for protein loading is estimated as 5 pg/mm2
Keywords :
Mach-Zehnder interferometers; adsorbed layers; biosensors; integrated optics; optical couplers; optical films; optical waveguides; refractive index; sensitivity; Mach-Zehnder interferometer; biomolecular surface multilayers; biotin-avidin-based biochemical system; bulk superstrate index; detection limit; integrated optical Mach-Zehnder biosensor; multiple protein adlayers; protein loading; sensitive operating point; sensor design; sensor performance; signal referencing; three-waveguide coupler structure; Biomedical optical imaging; Biosensors; Integrated optics; Nonhomogeneous media; Optical interferometry; Optical sensors; Proteins; Sensor phenomena and characterization; Sensor systems; Signal design;
Journal_Title :
Lightwave Technology, Journal of
