This paper details the design and fabrication of an integrated optical biochemical sensor using a select oxygen-sensitive fluorescent dye, tris(2,2’-bipyridyl) dichlororuthenium(II) hexahydrate, combined with polymeric waveguides that are fabricated on a glass substrate. The sensor uses evanescent interaction of light confined within the waveguide with the dye that is immobilized on the waveguide surface. Adhesion of the dye to the integrated waveguide surface is accomplished using a unique process of spin-coating/electrostatic layer-by-layer formation. Exposure of the dye molecules to the analyte and subsequent chemical interaction is achieved by directly coupling the fluid channel to the integrated waveguide. A unique fabrication aspect of this sensor is the inherent simplicity of the design, and the resulting rapidity of fabrication, while maintaining a high degree of functionality and flexibility.

Date Published: 17 January 2003
PDF: 11 pages
Proc. SPIE 4982, Microfluidics, BioMEMS, and Medical Microsystems, (17 January 2003); doi: 10.1117/12.478164

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 4982:
Microfluidics, BioMEMS, and Medical Microsystems
Holger Becker; Peter Woias, Editor(s)