Publication by Gyllion Loozen and Jacob Caro in Optics Express
Gyllion Loozen and Jacob Caro have published an article in Optics Express on the capabilities of an on-chip dual-waveguide optical trap for stable trapping of extracellular vesicles (EVs). EVs are small, cell-derived particles that strongly attract attention as biomarkers for cancer.
In an extensive simulation study, the authors obtain the trapping capabilities of a dual-waveguide optical trap for EVs. This trap is based on the special composite SiO2-Si3N4 waveguides they have used in previous trapping experiments. These emit narrow, counter-propagating beams into a microfluidic channel. The simulations yield the electromagnetic fields in the trap, which lead to the position-dependent forces on EVs. Finally, Ashkin’s criterion is applied to the trapping potentials to arrive at the conditions for stable trapping in terms of EV diameter and refractive index model, trap size, and optical power supplied to the trap. The simulations may lead to a highly-integrated technological platform for early diagnosis of cancer. The article’s outlook sketches that applying multiple waveguides can further improve the trapping capabilities. The authors have a fabrication run underway for dual-, quad- and octo-waveguide traps based on the type of simulations reported in the article.
To read the article, follow the link: https://www.osapublishing.org/oe/fulltext.cfm?uri=oe-26-21-26985&id=398772