Enhanced fluorescence‐based bio‐detection through selective integration of reflectors in microfluidic lab‐on‐a‐chip

Abstract

Purpose

This paper proposes to examine a simple and cost‐effective method of integrating a reflector surface with a silicon‐based microfluidic channel for enhanced biosensing through the method of fluorescence in a microfluidics and nanofluidics‐based lab‐on‐a‐chip device.

Design/methodology/approach

Herein, the reflector is integrated with silicon‐based microfluidic channels and fluorescence measurements were carried out using alexafluor 647 particles. Two types of microfluidic channel surfaces were used, with and without reflector integration, for the experiments.

Findings

The experimental results prove that the proposed technique of partial reflector integration within microfluidic or nanofluidic channel surfaces is highly suitable for fluorescence‐based detection of single molecules and low concentration fluorophore‐tagged receptors.

Originality/value

It is believed that this is a novel work of integrating a reflector with a microfluidic channel surface for fluorescence‐based biodetection. This method will be very useful for fluorescence‐based biosensors in detecting low concentration fluorophores and single molecules.

Citation

Chandrasekaran, A. and Packirisamy, M. (2008), "Enhanced fluorescence‐based bio‐detection through selective integration of reflectors in microfluidic lab‐on‐a‐chip", Sensor Review, Vol. 28 No. 1, pp. 33-38. https://doi.org/10.1108/02602280810850008