IT09. Nanoscale coatings on optical fibers for sensitivity and specificity enhancement

Summary form only given. An optical sensor is probably the most engaging areas of research at present, given the number of publications that come out in this area. Starting with simple optical fiber sensors for physical parameters such as temperature, strain, etc. to the more complex biosensing strategies, optical sensors promise immunity to electrical interferences, ease of manufacturing and easy acceptance from the user community. Although various complex bio/chemical sensors have been developed riding on the wave of nanotechnology, there are simple strategies to exploit nanoscale phenomena to develop powerful bio/chemical sensors. In the Biosensors and Bioinstrumentation (BSBI) lab of IIT Bombay, research is conducted on using modulations of the evanescent field on optical fibers or waveguides for chemical and biological sensing. This talk will concentrate on sensors developed using multimode optical fibers for detection of pathogens in water, proteins in serum and even trace explosive vapors in air. The sensitivity of these sensors canbeen improved by incorporating nanostructures (e.g. gold nanospheres, dendrimers, etc.) and polymers on the surface of the fibers.