Enhanced fluorescence detection of miRNA-16 on a photonic crystal.

We report a novel sensing method for fluorescence-labelled microRNAs (miRNAs) spotted on an all-dielectric photonic structure. Such a photonic structure provides an enhanced excitation and a directional beaming of the emitted fluorescence, resulting in a significant improvement of the overall signal collected. As a result, the Limit of Detection (LoD) is demonstrated to decrease by a factor of about 50. A compact read-out system allows a wide-field imaging-based detection, with little or no optical alignment issues, which makes this approach particularly interesting for further development for example in microarray-type bioassays.

In-plane 2D focusing of surface waves by ultrathin refractive structures.

In an attempt to provide a fully dielectric platform for two-dimensional optical circuitry, we report on the focusing features of an ultrathin polymeric lens fabricated on a planar multilayer. The radiation coupled to surface modes sustained by the multilayer can be focused or waveguide-injected into linear ridges by exploiting a dielectric-loading mechanism successfully exploited for plasmons. The low losses of this photonic system also allow long propagation lengths in the visible spectral range. Experimental observations made by fluorescence imaging of the multilayer surface are well supported by computational data obtained through an effective index approach.

Smart detection of microRNAs through fluorescence enhancement on a photonic crystal.

The detection of low abundant biomarkers, such as circulating microRNAs, demands innovative detection methods with increased resolution, sensitivity and specificity. Here, a biofunctional surface was implemented for the selective capture of microRNAs, which were detected through fluorescence enhancement directly on a photonic crystal. To set up the optimal biofunctional surface, epoxy-coated commercially available microscope slides were spotted with specific anti-microRNA probes. The optimal concentration of probe as well as of passivating agent were selected and employed for titrating the microRNA hybridization. Cross-hybridization of different microRNAs was also tested, resulting negligible. Once optimized, the protocol was adapted to the photonic crystal surface, where fluorescent synthetic miR-16 was hybridized and imaged with a dedicated equipment. The photonic crystal consists of a dielectric multilayer patterned with a grating structure. In this way, it is possible to take advantage from both a resonant excitation of fluorophores and an angularly redirection of the emitted radiation. As a result, a significant fluorescence enhancement due to the resonant structure is collected from the patterned photonic crystal with respect to the outer non-structured surface. The dedicated read-out system is compact and based on a wide-field imaging detection, with little or no optical alignment issues, which makes this approach particularly interesting for further development such as for example in microarray-type bioassays.

A flow-through holed PDMS membrane as a reusable microarray spotter for biomedical assays.

We propose the exploitation of a holed-designed poly(dimethyl)siloxane (PDMS) membrane as an innovative microarray spotter. The membrane is fabricated by a simple technological approach and can be reused several times. A good level of reproducibility is found upon spotting fluorescent proteins at different concentrations over large areas.