Optofluidic lasers with a single molecular layer of gain

Lab Chip. 2014 Dec 21;14(24):4590-5. doi: 10.1039/c4lc00872c. Epub 2014 Oct 14.

Abstract

We achieve optofluidic lasers with a single molecular layer of gain, in which green fluorescent protein, dye-labeled bovine serum albumin, and dye-labeled DNA, are used as the gain medium and attached to the surface of a ring resonator via surface immobilization biochemical methods. It is estimated that the surface density of the gain molecules is on the order of 10(12) cm(-2), sufficient for lasing under pulsed optical excitation. It is further shown that the optofluidic laser can be tuned by energy transfer mechanisms through biomolecular interactions. This work not only opens a door to novel photonic devices that can be controlled at the level of a single molecular layer but also provides a promising sensing platform to analyze biochemical processes at the solid-liquid interface.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cattle
  • DNA / chemistry*
  • Lasers*
  • Optics and Photonics / instrumentation*
  • Optics and Photonics / methods*
  • Serum Albumin, Bovine / chemistry*

Substances

  • Serum Albumin, Bovine
  • DNA