Development of optical platforms for biological samples sensing

Author(s)

Jonas Henrique Osório

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: Campinas, SP.
• Institution: Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Instituto de Física Gleb Wataghin
• Defense date: 2013-10-07

Examining board members

Cristiano Monteiro de Barros Cordeiro; Christiano José Santiago de Matos; Luís Eduardo Evangelista de Araujo

• Advisor: Cristiano Monteiro de Barros Cordeiro

Abstract

In this dissertation, the development of fiber optic-based sensing platforms which can be projected to act as biological sensors is presented. Firstly, a setup which employs birefringent microfibers obtained from tapering down side-polished standard telecom optical fibers is exposed. This configuration provides a highly sensitive refractive index sensor ¿ (3.0 ± 0.2) x 104 nanometers per refractive index unit ¿ but with poor robustness. In order to obtain a more robust setup, a configuration which employs two in-series mechanically induced long-period gratings was studied. Although this setup presented lower sensitivity than the sensor obtained from birefringent microfibers ¿ (700 ± 30) nanometers per refractive index unit ¿, it allowed the performance of measurements for monitoring small refractive index variations. As temperature fluctuations can influence refractive index measurements, a setup in which two birefringent optical fibers are spliced in an in-series configuration for temperature sensing is also presented. By using this setup, it is also possible to independently sense two different physical parameters (which are defined according to the choice of the birefringent fibers to be used). Finally, it is presented the development of optical configurations by employing a biocompatible material: silk. The use of silk-based configurations is very promising since it broadens the optical biosensors applications possibilities (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 10/13149-4 - New optical waveguides for biological sensing
• Grantee: Jonas Henrique Osório
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Master