On-Demand Fully Enclosed Superhydrophobic-Optofluidic Devices Enabled by Microstereolithography

Langmuir. 2022 Aug 30;38(34):10672-10678. doi: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.2c01658. Epub 2022 Aug 19.

Abstract

Superhydrophobic surface-based optofluidics have been introduced to biosensors and unconventional optics with unique advantages, such as low light loss and power consumption. However, most of these platforms were made with planar-like microstructures and nanostructures, which may cause bonding issues and result in significant waveguide loss. Here, we introduce a fully enclosed superhydrophobic-based optofluidics system, enabled by a one-step microstereolithography procedure. Various microstructured cladding designs with a feature size down to 100 μm were studied and a "T-type" overhang design exhibits the lowest optical loss, regardless of the excitation wavelength. Surprisingly, the optical loss of superhydrophobic-based optofluidics is not solely decided by the solid area fraction at the solid/water/air interface, but also the cross-section shape and the effective cladding layer composition. We show that this fully enclosed optofluidic system can be used for CRISPR-labeled quantum dot quantification, intended for in vitro and in vivo CRISPR therapeutics.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Biosensing Techniques*
  • Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions
  • Microfluidic Analytical Techniques*
  • Nanostructures*
  • Optics and Photonics