Flash Drive Integrated Label Free Silicon Nano-Photonic Bio-Assays for Space Station Bio-Diagnostics

Here, Omega Optics Inc. (OO), in collaboration with University of Texas (UT), Austin and Texas A&M University will develop a novel label-free photonic crystal (PC) micro-cavities based on-chip integrated electrically injected tunable transverse-coupled-cavity (TCC) vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) for high throughput diagnostic assays in early cancer detections. The device will enable low cost of ownership (COO) $50-$100 for consumable parts and measurement system is expected to be less than $1000. High sensitivities of less than 67 femto grams per millimeter is expected. It is noted that each PC cavity is immobilized with a unique capture biomolecule, and interrogated simultaneously for binding between the probe capture and target biomolecule. Binding is manifested by change in resonance wavelength due to the change in refractive index. Large effective modal volume and high quality factor of the resonance enables the optical mode to interact with more biomolecules for a longer interaction time thereby leading to high sensitivity compact sensors. Binding specificity is achieved by sandwich assay techniques combined with multiplexed detection for statistical confidence. Electrical injection enables chip integration of the light source that offers superior advantage over all existing optical sensors which rely on coupling of external optical sources with complex instrumentation. The device can be easily extended to any multi-analyte sensing for implementation in biomarker discovery, drug discovery, health diagnostics and in the long term, in screening. Market for cancer profiling technologies market is to be $54.8 billion in 2018, while the pharmaceuticals market is expected to grow to $1 Trillion. We expect to occupy a significant position in the above markets. Our technology is extremely versatile and the ramifications are far-reaching.

Can be used for: (1) Monitoring the astronaut’s health from irritable bowel syndrome to diabetes, and even depression. Stressful conditions, like those typically found during a space mission, including cosmic radiation and microgravity, have been shown to changes in bacterial physiology. Due to hand-held and label free it can be used anywhere, anytime. (2) Also our tunable laser integrated with amplifier can be used for NASA's LIDAR applications.

It can be used for (1) early detection in the medical diagnostics, (2) Bio-“warfare defense” assays monitoring biological toxins, food and feedstock assays . Away from the sensing market, electrically injected tunable TCC-VCSEL and semiconductor optical amplifier have dominant markets in (3) chip-integrated low-threshold with tunable operation for optical communications. Hence, diverse areas of science and technology are expected to benefit from this research.

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