About the project
Both Mid-IR and Raman molecular fingerprint spectroscopies have been shown to be powerful bio-diagnostic tools for specific biomarkers. Enhancing the sensitivity and improving the detection limit of current Mid-IR and Raman spectroscopic platforms are most important to exploit them for early diagnosis of disease biomarkers in point of care setting.
Recently two-dimensional (2D) materials such as graphene and transition metal di-chalcogenides (TMDC) have shown huge potentials for spectroscopic signal enhancement. In this project, we will develop highly sensitive ATR and Raman chips empowered with 2D material layer for super enhanced IR and Raman spectroscopies. We will develop bulk silicon and silicon on insulator (SOI) platforms coated with TMDCs in both ATR and waveguide configurations for enhanced Mid-IR and Raman spectroscopies. The diagnostic potential of these platforms will be evaluated using the detection of breast/ovarian cancer and acute respiratory distress syndrome biomarkers in collaboration with The Institute of Cancer Research, London and University Hospital Southampton.