Optofluidics
Optofluidics is a research and technology area that combines the advantages of fluidics (in particular microfluidics) and optics. Applications of the technology include displays, biosensors, lab-on-chip devices, lenses, and molecular imaging tools and energy.
History
The idea of fluid-optical devices can be traced back at least as far as the 18th century, when spinning pools of mercury were proposed (and eventually developed) as liquid-mirror telescopes. In the 20th century new technologies such as dye lasers and liquid-core waveguides were developed that took advantage of the tunability and physical adaptability that liquids provided to these newly emerging photonic systems. The field of optofluidics formally began to emerge in the mid-2000s as the fields of microfluidics and nanophotonics were maturing and researchers began to look for synergies between these two areas.[1] One of the primary applications of the field is for lab-on-a-chip and biophotonic products.[2][3][4]
Companies and technology transfer
Optofluidic and related research has led to the formation of a number of new products and start-up companies. Varioptic specializes in the development of electrowetting based lenses for numerous applications. Optofluidics, Inc. was launched in 2011 from Cornell University in order to develop tools for molecular trapping and disease diagnosis based on photonic resonator technology. Liquilume from UC Santa Cruz specializes in molecular diagnostics based on arrow waveguides.
In 2012, the European Commission has launched a new COST framework that is concerned solely with optofluidic technology and their application.[5]
Examples of Specific Applications
Given the broad range of technologies that have already been developed in the field of microfluidics and the many potential applications of integrating optical components into these systems, the range of applications for optofluidic technology is vast.
Laminar Flow Based Optofluidic Waveguides
Optofluidic waveguides are based on principles of traditional
Optofluidic Photonic Crystal Fibers
Optofluidic Photonic-crystal fibers (PCFs) are traditional PFCs modified with microfluidic techniques. Photonic-crystal fibers are a type of fiber optic waveguide with cladding layers arranged in a crystalline fashion in their cross-sectional areas. Traditionally, these structured cladding layers are filled with a solid-state material with a different refractive indices or are hollow. Each cladded core then acts as a single mode fiber passing multiple light paths in parallel.[8] Traditional PCFs are also limited to using hollow or solid-state cores that must be filled at the time of construction. This means that the material properties the PCFs were set at the time of construction and were limited to the material properties of solid-state materials.[8]
Viewig et al. used microfluidic technology to selectively fill sections of photonic crystal fibers with fluids that exhibit a high degree of
See also
References
- S2CID 1729058.
- ^ Zahn, p. 185.
- ^ Boas, Gary (June 2011). "Optofluidics and the Real World: Technologies Evolve to Meet 21st Century Challenges". Photonics Spectra. Retrieved 2011-06-26.
- ^ "Optofluidics: Optofluidics can create small, cheap biophotonic devices". Jul 1, 2006. Retrieved 2011-06-26.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "COST Action MP1205 Advances in Optofluidics: Integration of Optical Control and Photonics with Microfluidics". Archived from the original on 2017-11-26. Retrieved 2017-02-14.
- PMID 22337129.
- PMID 32570945.
- ^ PMID 24358056.
- ^ PMID 21164870.
- PMID 30424079.
Further reading
- Fainman, Yeshaiahu; Psaltis, Demetri (18 September 2009). Optofluidics: fundamentals, devices, and applications. McGraw Hill Professional. ISBN 978-0-07-160156-6. Retrieved 26 June 2011.
- Zahn, Jeffrey D. (31 October 2009). Methods in bioengineering: biomicrofabrication and biomicrofluidics. Artech House. ISBN 978-1-59693-400-9. Retrieved 26 June 2011.
- Ferreira M, Leça J (1 December 2022). "Real-Time Measurement of Refractive Index Using 3D-Printed Optofluidic Fiber Sensors". Sensors. 22 (23): 9377. PMID 36502090.