Optofluidic devices with integrated solid-state nanopores

Mikrochim Acta. 2016 Apr;183(4):1275-1287. doi: 10.1007/s00604-016-1758-y. Epub 2016 Jan 27.

Abstract

This review (with 90 refs.) covers the state of the art in optofluidic devices with integrated solid-state nanopores for use in detection and sensing. Following an introduction into principles of optofluidics and solid-state nanopore technology, we discuss features of solid-state nanopore based assays using optofluidics. This includes the incorporation of solid-state nanopores into optofluidic platforms based on liquid-core anti-resonant reflecting optical waveguides (ARROWs), methods for their fabrication, aspects of single particle detection and particle manipulation. We then describe the new functionalities provided by solid-state nanopores integrated into optofluidic chips, in particular acting as smart gates for correlated electro-optical detection and discrimination of nanoparticles. This enables the identification of viruses and λ-DNA, particle trajectory simulations, enhancing sensitivity by tuning the shape of nanopores. The review concludes with a summary and an outlook.

Keywords: ARROW waveguides; Bioassay; Electro-optics; Fluorescence analysis; Liquid core waveguide; Particle manipulation; Single biomolecule detection; System integration.