Compact photonic sensor system for rapid biological threat detection

The objective of this work is development of a new sensor system to rapidly detect and diagnose biological threats to the public, including microbial and toxic agents. A unique, new photonic resonance sensor concept implemented with subwavelength waveguide gratings is applied to monitor each detection event in real-time. Due to inherent polarization diversity, multiple resonance peaks shift their positions in angle when a bioreaction occurs, thereby providing cross-referenced data and protection against false positives. This label-free technology can be applied in complex biological samples, such as food products and water sources. It does not require extensive processing steps, thus simplifying assay tests and enabling a rapid response. The biochip detection system connects to portable computer interfaces for data acquisition and analysis by dedicated software codes. The research proposed will accomplish design, fabrication, testing, and verification of a prototype sensor for microbial and toxic agents. Commercial applicability of the technology is high relative to competing products. The basic sensor can be fashioned into ultra compact, dense arrays for simultaneous monitoring of multiple biological species as planned for Phase II.