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Photonic Crystals as Robust Label-Free Biosensors

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Photonic Materials for Sensing, Biosensing and Display Devices

Part of the book series: Springer Series in Materials Science ((SSMATERIALS,volume 229))

Abstract

This chapter focuses on a highly sensitive class of label-free optical sensor: photonic crystals (PhCs). One- and two-dimensional versions of these structures (1D-PhC, 2D-PhC) can be readily fabricated using standard techniques from the microelectronics industry. While many research groups have contributed to development of PhCs in the context of biosensing, the chapter primarily focuses on efforts from several groups at the University of Rochester. We discuss novel photonic crystal designs, methods to capture and quantify small molecules, proteins, and viruses with photonic crystals, and remarkable approaches to improving photonic crystals in terms of their ultimate limit of detection and sensitivity. Looking forward, we also discuss new ways to use photonic crystals to discriminate between specific and non-specific binding.

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Correspondence to Benjamin L. Miller .

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Lifson, M.A., Miller, B.L. (2016). Photonic Crystals as Robust Label-Free Biosensors. In: Serpe, M.J., Kang, Y., Zhang, Q.M. (eds) Photonic Materials for Sensing, Biosensing and Display Devices. Springer Series in Materials Science, vol 229. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-24990-2_7

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