On-chip absorption measurements using an integrated waveguide

Anal Bioanal Chem. 2002 Aug;373(7):519-25. doi: 10.1007/s00216-002-1316-9. Epub 2002 Jun 21.

Abstract

Square hollow waveguides are used to integrate measurement of absorption with chip-based electrophoresis. The 50x50 microm liquid channel and 50x50 microm waveguide are etched as a negative pattern into a silicon master and replicated as a positive in poly-dimethylsiloxane (PDMS). The uniform refractive index of the chip prevents guiding by total internal reflection. Instead, light at 488 nm is guided by reflection at the air-PDMS interface. The waveguide has a 60% efficiency over a distance of 3.2 cm. Separation of fluorescein and the dye BODIPY is demonstrated. A detection limit (S/N=3) of 200 microM fluorescein is obtained using a 50 microm pathlength and a simple photocell detector.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Absorption
  • Boron Compounds
  • Calibration
  • Dimethylpolysiloxanes*
  • Electrochemistry
  • Electrophoresis, Capillary / instrumentation*
  • Equipment Design
  • Fluorescein
  • Fluorescence
  • Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
  • Miniaturization
  • Refractometry*
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Silicon

Substances

  • 4,4-difluoro-4-bora-3a,4a-diaza-s-indacene
  • Boron Compounds
  • Dimethylpolysiloxanes
  • Fluorescein
  • Silicon