Bio-Inspired Photonic-Crystal Microchip for Fluorescent Ultratrace Detection

摘要

Ultratrace detection attracts great interest because it is still a challenge to the early diagnosis and. drug testing. Enriching the targets from highly diluted solutions to the sensitive area is a promising method. Inspired, by the fog-collecting structure on Stenocara beetle's back, a photonic-crystal (PC) microchip with hydrophilic-hydrophobic micro-pattern was fabricated by inkjet printing. This device was used to realize high-sensitive ultratrace detection of fluorescence analytes and fluorophore-based assays. Coupled with the fluorescence enhancement effect of a PC, detection down to 10~(-16) mol L~(-1) was achieved. This design can be combined with biophotonic devices for the detection of drugs, diseases, and pollutions of the ecosystem.