Research

1. Optical label-free biosensor development

2. Optofluidic lasers

3. Highly sensitive optofluidic laser intra-cavity biosensing

4. Optofluidic ELISA

5. Multi-dimensional micro-gas chromatography

6. Vapor detection for environmental protection, healthcare, and biomedicine

7. Microfluidic optomechanics

8. Nanoparticle detection, sorting, and counting

(Detailed description will be coming soon)

 

Dr. Fan’s lab focuses on the development of novel bio/chemical sensor platform based on opto-fluidic ring resonators. As compared to regular waveguide-based sensors, ring resonator sensors will potentially feature low detection limit, low sample consumption, and large integration density. Both label-free and fluorescence-labeled detection protocols are used in either planar or spherical ring resonators. In addition to the detection of large bio-entities such as protein molecules and bacteria, this lab is also interested in small molecule detection, which is useful for drug discovery.

Since the intensity of the light in a ring resonator can greatly be enhanced, nonlinear optical detection becomes possible. Dr. Fan’s lab is also dedicated to developing nonlinear optical sensors that can open up a new avenue to sensing transduction mechanisms.

Nanophotonics is another research area in Dr. Fan’s lab. Fluorescent semiconductor quantum dots and metal nanoparticles will be used in combination with ring resonator technology. One current project is to achieve enhanced Raman scattering through the hybrid system of ring resonator and gold nanoparticles. Another project is to achieve organized arrays of semiconductor quantum dots and gold nanoparticles on a silicon wafer through nanoporous templating or self-assembly.

Students in Dr. Fan’s lab will learn the optical waveguide/fiber, nanotechnologies, and optical biosensor theory and gain hands-on experience through research projects that are mentioned previously. Additionally, students are expected to join interdisciplinary research endeavor in such areas as waveguide fabrication, surface characterization, nanoparticle fabrication and manipulation, and biomolecule synthesis and immobilization.

Click to read an “Interview with the professor“.

Please read our review article on “liquid core optical ring resonator sensors” (published at Proc. SPIE 6452-18, Photonics West, San Jose, CA 2007, invited paper)

Please read our news release at http://newsroom.spie.org/x5463.xml?highlight=x539
or download the PDF file

Read another story of “Ultra Small Lab-on-a-Chip

Read the story about using the optofluidic laser for DNA detection at the Scientist (http://the-scientist.com/2012/04/01/a-brighter-beacon/)

Read one of micro-GC applications at TED (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTQVLfG3sgM&feature=youtu.be)