Fabrication and optical characterization of pedestal micro-structures on DUV210 polymer: waveguides structures towards micro-resonators

International audienceThe paper presents the global design, fabrication and optical characterizations of pedestal waveguides and 2D microresonators made of DUV210 polymer. These particular geometries are achieved thanks to specific deep-UV lithography procedures allowing sub-lambda development coupled to chemical etching able to shape such pedestal configuration on various optical microstructures. Scanning electron microscopy images have confirmed their features. Moreover, such families of pedestal structures were characterized experimentally, including the optical losses measurements for the waveguides and the optical resonance responses for two kinds of microresonators. Optical studies of single mode propagation losses measurements have been performed by a cut back method leading to values close to 20 dB/cm at a 635 nm wavelength. Additionally, resonant spectral analysis has been performed into pedestal rings and racetracks microresonators with a broadband laser source centered at 795 nm, demonstrating the presence of expected theoretical resonances. Free spectral range values of 2.86 nm and 2.51 nm have been measured for these new designed pedestal resonators on DUV210 related to quality factor values superior to 520 and 610 respectively

A novel deep-UV polymer for integrated photonics: waveguides structures towards cascade of multiple micro-resonators

International audienceAn overview of targeted current research on integrated photonics based on the new deep-UV210 organic material is given. We report on the interest in this new material and properties coupled to deep-ultraviolet (DUV) lithography processes towards the realization and optical characterization of sundry photonics structures. Such structures include sub-wavelength waveguides, pedestal and tapers waveguides until serial of optical micro-resonators (MRs) shaped as disk, ring, stadium and racetrack

Typochronologie de la céramique médiévale dans l’espace normand : production, diffusion

Depuis 2008, le PCR œuvre à la mise en place d’une typochronologie de la céramique médiévale et moderne en Normandie. L’année 2013 a été consacrée à la lecture critique de la base documentaire rassemblée pour les sites de Haute-Normandie. Ce travail a permis d’enrichir, d’évaluer et de cartographier les lots disponibles pour la constitution du répertoire de formes pour les xie-xiie s. Celui-ci a été proposé à partir des lots céramiques ayant fourni une étude, une datation fiable et des formes..

Development of an online SPE–LC–MS-based assay using endogenous substrate for investigation of soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) inhibitors

Soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) is a promising therapeutic target for the treatment of hypertension, pain, and inflammation-related diseases. In order to enable the development of sEH inhibitors (sEHIs), assays are needed for determination of their potency. Therefore, we developed a new method utilizing an epoxide of arachidonic acid (14(15)-EpETrE) as substrate. Incubation samples were directly injected without purification into an online solid phase extraction (SPE) liquid chromatography electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC–ESI–MS–MS) setup allowing a total run time of only 108 s for a full gradient separation. Analytes were extracted from the matrix within 30 s by turbulent flow chromatography. Subsequently, a full gradient separation was carried out on a 50X2.1 mm RP-18 column filled with 1.7 μm core–shell particles. The analytes were detected with high sensitivity by ESI–MS–MS in SRM mode. The substrate 14(15)-EpETrE eluted at a stable retention time of 96 ± 1 s and its sEH hydrolysis product 14,15-DiHETrE at 63 ± 1 s with narrow peak width (full width at half maximum height: 1.5 ± 0.1 s). The analytical performance of the method was excellent, with a limit of detection of 2 fmol on column, a linear range of over three orders of magnitude, and a negligible carry-over of 0.1% for 14,15-DiHETrE. The enzyme assay was carried out in a 96-well plate format, and near perfect sigmoidal dose–response curves were obtained for 12 concentrations of each inhibitor in only 22 min, enabling precise determination of IC50 values. In contrast with other approaches, this method enables quantitative evaluation of potent sEHIs with picomolar potencies because only 33 pmol L−1 sEH were used in the reaction vessel. This was demonstrated by ranking ten compounds by their activity; in the fluorescence method all yielded IC50 ≤ 1 nmol L−1. Comparison of 13 inhibitors with IC50 values >1 nmol L−1 showed a good correlation with the fluorescence method (linear correlation coefficient 0.9, slope 0.95, Spearman’s rho 0.9). For individual compounds, however, up to eightfold differences in potencies between this and the fluorescence method were obtained. Therefore, enzyme assays using natural substrate, as described here, are indispensable for reliable determination of structure–activity relationships for sEH inhibition

UV210 optical microresonators on pedestal

National audienceIntegrated optics is anvequivalent of microlectronics but with light.This is a key field in new technologies due to itspotential of low cost and high speed integrated circuits. Microresonators MRs are major components thanks to theirproperties as filters or sensors. Whispering Gallery Modes WGMs rules the MRs physics. These modes appear nearthe MRs surface when light is confined by total internal reflections. Polymers are well adapted materials due to theirwide range of properties. We use the UV210 which refractive index is tunable. Moreover pedestals offer interestingpossibilities by improving efficiency and giving newv geometries for coupling light into MRs

A novel deep-UV polymer for integrated photonics: from waveguides structures to taper-waveguides coupled to cascade of multistage resonators used as thermal sensors

International audienceAn overview of current research on integrated photonics based on the new UV210 phot-oresist is given. We report the overall design, fabrication and characterization of waveguides structures, multistage microresonators and their potential as thermal sensors

A novel deep-UV polymer for nanophotonics: structures towards cascade of serial micro-resonators for ultra-sensitive detections of glucose

International audienceAn overview of targeted current research on integrated photonics based on the new deep-UV210 organic material is given [1-5]. We report on the interest in this new material and properties coupled to deep-ultraviolet (DUV) lithography processes towards the realization and optical characterization of sundry photonics structures. Such structures include sub-wavelength waveguides, pedestal and tapers waveguides until serial of optical micro-resonators shaped as disk, ring, stadium and racetrack for sensors devoted to glucose detection. The overall design, fabrication and optical characterization of single and multiple resonant micro-structures patterned on the UV210 polymer and shaped by adequate deep-UV lithography procedures will be presented. Various families of ring and racetrack forms are investigated with different geometrical dimensions linked to the micro-resonators and the specific taper-waveguides and gaps allowing the optimized coupling. Well defined photonic structures families in the sub-micrometer range obtained by this deep UV-light process are clearly confirmed through scanning electron microscopy. In order to evaluate and quantify the efficiency of the sub-micrometer coupling, the recirculation of the light and the quality of the optical resonance aspects, a global study including top view intensity imaging, spectral measurements and Fast Fourier Transform analysis is performed for all these devices based on single and multiple family resonators. The experimental TE-mode resonance transmissions reveal a complete agreement with the period of the theoretically expected resonances. Moreover, the large thermo-optic coefficient and the detection principle based on the interaction of the evanescent field with different glucose concentrations demonstrate that this sensor displays high sensitivity on detection properties. Glucose homogeneous sensing capability will be also presented. Different concentrations of glucose solutions result in a red shift of the resonant wavelengths with a linear sensitivity close to 280 pm/(mg/ml)

Plasmodium P36 determines host cell receptor usage during sporozoite invasion

International audiencePlasmodium sporozoites, the mosquito-transmitted forms of the malaria parasite, first infect the liver for an initial round of replication before the emergence of pathogenic blood stages. Sporozoites represent attractive targets for antimalarial preventive strategies, yet the mechanisms of parasite entry into hepatocytes remain poorly understood. Here we show that the two main species causing malaria in humans, Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax, rely on two distinct host cell surface proteins, CD81 and the Scavenger Receptor BI (SR-BI), respectively, to infect hepatocytes. By contrast, CD81 and SR-BI fulfil redundant functions during infection by the rodent parasite P. berghei. Genetic analysis of sporozoite factors reveals the 6-cysteine domain protein P36 as a major parasite determinant of host cell receptor usage. Our data provide molecular insights into the invasion pathways used by different malaria parasites to infect hepatocytes, and establish a functional link between a sporozoite putative ligand and host cell receptors