NanoPlasmonics, Microphotonics & Imaging

Research that includes:

  • Polymer, printed optical lenslet arrays
  • Microfluidic tuneable photopolymer lenses
  • Optical switches and planar lightwave MEMS
  • Vertically integrated microconfocal arrays
  • Bio-inspired integration of tuneable polymer optics with imaging electronics

BPN514: The Disassembly of a Core-Satellite Nanoassembled Substrate for Colorimetric Biomolecular Detection

John R. Waldeisen
Benjamin M. Ross
2010

Creation of a colorimetric diagnostic substrate which can detect biomolecular markers present in human peripheral fluids.

Project end date: 08/03/10

BPN419: Board-to-Board Optical Interconnect: Lens Alignment System Incorporating Ultrasonic Stepper Motors

Brian Yoxall
2010

An array of free-space optical interconnects composed of vertical cavity surface emitting lasers (VCSELs), alignment lenses, and photodiodes can alleviate communication limitation between boards in computer servers by replacing traditional copper wire connections. Actively controlled alignment lenses can be used to correct optical misalignment due to vibration loads, temperature fluctuation, and initial static offsets. A silicon micro-machined lens stage has been designed and fabricated to interface between linear piezoelectric ultrasonic stepper motors (USM) and an alignment lens...

BPN548: Selective Amplification of Raman Scatterings using Optical Nano-Antennas

Asif Riaz
Young-Geun Park
Eric P. Lee
SoonGweon Hong
Yeonho Choi
2010

An optical nano-antenna can be useful to obtain selective amplification of matching vibrational modes of a target molecule. As a demonstration we used different types of highly packed nanoparticles for surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS), while each substrate when being excited by resonant wavelength strongly enhances well-matched Stock scatterings. Our multiplex SERS measurement will provide further molecular information of energy levels.

Project end date: 08/11/10

BPN511: Selective Delivery of anti-Akt siRNA via Frequency-Tuned Nanoparticles for the Study of Angiogenesis

Yolanda Y. Zhang
Eric P. Lee
2010

The Akt proteins are some of the most well-known members of the serine/threonine-specific protein kinases, responsible for multiple aspects of cell growth. Akt mutations are also present in a statistically significant percentage of primary and metastatic tumors with high kinase activity correlated with tumor metastasis, chemotherapy resistance, radiotherapy resistance, and enhanced angiogenesis. Investigation of Akt kinase activity in cells is usually performed by kinase assays and Western blotting using phosphorylation-specific antibodies, which are invasive in nature and may not...

BPN523: Bio-Inspired Manipulation of Nanoplasmonic Architectures via Active Polymers

Benjamin M. Ross
Liz Y. Wu
2010

While technology relies on components defined in a fixed position on a rigid substrate, nature prefers soft substrates, and allows components to move significantly during morphogenesis. Taking inspiration from biological fabrication, we have developed a technique, called active polymer nanofabrication, which utilizes active (smart) polymers to create complex nanoplasmonic substrates designed for molecular detection.

Project end date: 02/01/11

BPN508: Carbon Nanotubes as Scaffolding for Surface-enhanced Raman Spectroscopy

Brendan W. Turner
2010

This project will introduce and determine enhancement factors for a novel carbon nanotube scaffolding for surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy. We will fabricate and optimize the SERS surface on a wafer scale using inexpensive fabrication methods. Included will be a study of the de-wetting of Au on carbon nanotubes.

Project end date: 02/01/11

BPN536: Absorptive h-PDMS Plasmonic Nanopillars: A Replicable Substrate for Generating High SERS Signals by Chemical Concentration

Eric Lee
SoonGweon Hong
Brendan Turner
2010

This project addresses the utilization of Chemically Absorptive Nanopillars as a new, economical substrate to concentrate molecules and generate huge SERS enhancement. Experimental tests were conducted to demonstrate the absorptive property of the PDMS substrate, which concentrates target molecules around localized areas for enhanced SERS detection. Evidence of molecular concentration was demonstrated by monitoring the increasing fluorescence intensity of 1,2- bis(4-pyridyl) ethylene (BPE) as the molecules concentrate along the edge of an h-PDMS microfluidic channel. The SERS signal...

BPN569: Beta-Amyloid-Induced Membrane Perturbation and Cation Dyshomeostasis in Neurons and Relation to Alzheimer's Disease

Jae Young Lee
2011

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia in the elderly population. During the progression, cognitive impairment extends to the domains of language, skilled movements, recognition and decision making. This research project are aimed at ultimately developing fast, innovative, and high throughput approaches for use in relevant biological model, as well as to utilize developing and existing technologies to break through the hurdles in Alzheimer’s disease research. To do so, systematic study of influences of beta-amylolid oligomers on cell dysfunction and death is...

BPN631: MEMS Lens Scanner

Niels Quack
Jeffrey Chou
2011

A linear MEMS lens scanner for laser beam scanning is developed in this project.

Project end date: 01/30/12

BPN578: III-V / Silicon Photonic Integration

Myung-Ki Kim
2011

Many semiconductor-based nanolaser cavities using metal have been remarkably reported in past few years. However, the efficient coupling of these small cavities to waveguides still remains a large challenge. Here, we show highly efficient coupling of a wavelength-scale III-V metal-clad high-quality nanolaser cavity operating the fundamental dielectric cavity-mode to a silicon-on-insulator waveguide. By engineering the effective refractive-index and the field distribution of the cavity mode, the quality factor is maximized as 1700 with a modal volume of 0.28 (lambda/n)^3. Furthermore...