417 research outputs found
Label-free, single molecule detection of cytokines using optical microcavities
Interleukin-2 (IL2) is a cytokine that regulates T-cell growth and is used in cancer therapies. By
sensitizing a microcavity sensor surface with anti-IL2 and monitoring the resonant frequency,
single molecules of IL2 can be detected
Label-free detection of cytokines using optical microcavities
Ultra-high-Q microresonators have demonstrated sensitive and specific chemical and biological detection. The sensitivity is derived from the long photon lifetime inside the cavity and specificity is achieved through surface functionalization. Here, ultra-high-Q microcavities demonstrate label-free, single molecule detection of Interleukin-2 (IL-2) in fetal bovine serum (FBS). IL-2 is a cytokine released in response to immune system activation. The surface of the microtoroids was sensitized using anti-IL-2. The detection mechanism relies upon a thermo-optic mechanism to enhance resonant wavelength shifts induced through binding of a molecule
Label-free single-molecule all-optical sensor
Recently, quality factors greater than 100 million were demonstrated using planar arrays of silica microtoroid resonators. These high Q factors allow the toroidal resonators to perform very sensitive detection experiments. By functionalizing the silica surface of the toroid with biotin, the toroidal resonators become both specific and sensitive detectors for Streptavidin. One application of this sensor is performing detection in lysates. To mimic this type of environment, additional solutions of Streptavidin were prepared which also contained high concentrations (nM and μM) of tryptophan
Characterization of high-Q optical microcavities using confocal microscopy
Confocal microscopy was initially developed to image complex circuits and material defects. Previous imaging
studies yielded only qualitative data about the location and number of defects. In the present study, this noninvasive method is used to obtain quantitative information about the Q factor of an optical resonant
cavity. Because the intensity of the fluorescent signal measures the number of defects in the resonant cavity,
this signal is a measure of the number of surface scattering defects, one of the dominant loss mechanisms in
optical microcavities. The Q of the cavities was also determined using conventional linewidth measurements.
Based upon a quantitative comparative analysis of these two techniques, it is shown that the Q can be determined without a linewidth measurement, allowing for a noninvasive characterization technique
An Experimental Platform for the Analysis of Polydisperse Systems Based on Light Scattering and Image Processing
In this work an experimental platform for light scattering analysis has been developed using image sensors, as CCD or CMOS. The main aim of this activity is the investigation of the feasibility of using these types of sensors for polydisperse systems analysis. The second purpose is the implementation of an experimental platform which is enough versatile to permit the observation of different phenomena in order to develop novel sensors/approach using data fusion
Click chemistry surface functionalization for resonant micro-cavity sensors
Micro-cavity resonant sensors have outer surfaces that are functionalized using click chemistry, e.g., involving a cycloaddition reaction of an alkyne functional group and an azide functional group. A first polymer linking element binds to an outer surface of the micro-cavity and has an azide functional group, which bonds to an alkyne functional group of a second polymer linking element as a result of a cycloaddition reaction. A functionalization element such as an antibody, antigen or protein for sensing a target molecule is bound to the second linking element
Exploring the role of skeletal muscle in insulin resistance: lessons from cultured cells to animal models
Skeletal muscle is essential to maintain vital functions such as movement, breathing, and thermogenesis, and it is now recognized as an endocrine organ. Muscles release factors named my-okines, which can regulate several physiological processes. Moreover, skeletal muscle is particularly important in maintaining body homeostasis, since it is responsible for more than 75% of all insulin-mediated glucose disposal. Alterations of skeletal muscle differentiation and function, with subse-quent dysfunctional expression and secretion of myokines, play a key role in the pathogenesis of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and other metabolic diseases, finally leading to cardiometabolic complica-tions. Hence, a deeper understanding of the molecular mechanisms regulating skeletal muscle function related to energy metabolism is critical for novel strategies to treat and prevent insulin resistance and its cardiometabolic complications. This review will be focused on both cellular and animal models currently available for exploring skeletal muscle metabolism and endocrine func-tion
Inferring periodic orbits from spectra of simple shaped micro-lasers
Dielectric micro-cavities are widely used as laser resonators and
characterizations of their spectra are of interest for various applications. We
experimentally investigate micro-lasers of simple shapes (Fabry-Perot, square,
pentagon, and disk). Their lasing spectra consist mainly of almost equidistant
peaks and the distance between peaks reveals the length of a quantized periodic
orbit. To measure this length with a good precision, it is necessary to take
into account different sources of refractive index dispersion. Our experimental
and numerical results agree with the superscar model describing the formation
of long-lived states in polygonal cavities. The limitations of the
two-dimensional approximation are briefly discussed in connection with
micro-disks.Comment: 13 pages, 19 figures, accepted for publication in Physical Review
Recent progress on the accurate determination of the equation of state of neutron and nuclear matter
The problem of accurately determining the equation of state of nuclear and
neutron matter at density near and beyond saturation is still an open
challenge. In this paper we will review the most recent progress made by means
of Quantum Monte Carlo calculations, which are at present the only ab-inito
method capable to treat a sufficiently large number of particles to give
meaningful estimates depending only on the choice of the nucleon-nucleon
interaction. In particular, we will discuss the introduction of
density-dependent interactions, the study of the temperature dependence of the
equation of state, and the possibility of accurately studying the effect of the
onset of hyperons by developing an accurate hyperon-nucleon and
hyperon-nucleon-nucleon interaction.Comment: 3 figures, 1 table, to appear in the Proceedings of "XIII Convegno di
Cortona su Problemi di Fisica Nucleare Teorica", Cortona (Italy), April 6-8,
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Label-free detection of cytokines using optical microcavities
Ultra-high-Q microresonators have demonstrated sensitive and specific chemical and biological detection. The sensitivity is derived from the long photon lifetime inside the cavity and specificity is achieved through surface functionalization. Here, ultra-high-Q microcavities demonstrate label-free, single molecule detection of Interleukin-2 (IL-2) in fetal bovine serum (FBS). IL-2 is a cytokine released in response to immune system activation. The surface of the microtoroids was sensitized using anti-IL-2. The detection mechanism relies upon a thermo-optic mechanism to enhance resonant wavelength shifts induced through binding of a molecule
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