Optofluidics

• Optofluidics in Bio-imaging Applications
• Microfluidics
• Complementary Merging of Photonics and Fluidics
• Optofluidic Plasmonic Devices and Plasmonic Sensing
• Optofluidic in micromachines
• Photonic Crystal Fiber Plasmonic Sensor
• Optofluidic Devices and Applications
• Optofluidics for Energy Applications
• Optofluidic Microsystems
• Optical Trapping and Manipulation
• Basic Microfluidic and Soft Lithographic Techniques
• Optofluidic Optical Components
• Optofluidic Colloidal Photonic Crystals
• Adaptive Optofluidic Devices
• Optofluidic Dye Lasers

Optofluidics is the use of light to regulate the flow of fluids, particularly at the micrometer scale.

The optofluidic system aims to completely integrate optical functions on one chip rather than using external bulky optics, which may consequently lower the value of the system, downsize the system and make it promising for point-of-care diagnosis.

Instrumentation of Optofluidics:

1. Optofluidic Interferometry
The sensing arm passes through a detection window with its evanescent field penetrating into the fluid analyte in the detection window. Any subtle RI variation in the analyte may result in a change in the optical path. The change in the optical path changes the intensity from the output end. By measuring the signal change, the MZI can precisely measure the phase difference between the light waves propagating through two arms.

2. Optofluidic Spectroscopy
Spectroscopy, as a crucial optical tool, can measure analytes at a very low concentration level supported by the absorption, fluorescence, or Raman characteristics. The main limitation to integrate the spectroscopic function on a micro-chip is that the short light–matter interaction length thanks to the inherently small size of the chip.

3. Optofluidic Cytometry

A traditional flow cytometer employs bulky optics to inspect the flowing particles of micro-size or biological cells aligned in a single line. The scattered light or fluorescence signal can be collected and analyzed to reveal the physical and chemical properties of the particles or cells. Since both delivery and collection of light involve external bulky lenses also because of the alignment of optics, the system can hardly be used for field trials.

4. On-Chip Manipulation of Micro-Object

The manipulation of micro-object involves trapping, sorting, and separation, which can find their applications in the fields of chemistry, biology, and colloidal science. The optical method, which is referred as optical tweezers, has played an important role due to its accuracy and flexibility to handle single or multiple micro-objects.