Abstract

Come On Baby Light My Fire – Combining Photonics and Microfluidics

Holger Becker, Chief Scientific Officer, microfluidic ChipShop GmbH

Practically all microfluidic systems contain a detection module as a central system component. For many years, fluorescence has been the gold standard, both due to its sensitivity as well as versatility. In recent years however, alternative detection methods have been emerging which offer different approaches especially for microfluidic systems with applications in point-of-care diagnostics. In this presentation, we will focus on two approaches: a) the integration of silicon photonic devices (so-called PICs) which utilize the semiconductor fabrication methods for silicon but make use of the optical properties of silicon instead of its electronic functionalities and b) the use of ink-jet printed integrated photonic elements such as light-sources and detectors which can be directly integrated in a disposable microfluidic cartridge.