Microfabricated polymer chip with integrated U-bend waveguides for evanescent field absorption based detection

A mu-TAS system for evanescent field absorption with integrated polymer waveguides is reported for the first time. A photoresist SU-8 layer is patterned into a microchannel network, with U-bend waveguides and fiber-to-waveguide coupler structures. The aim of this study was to explore the possibility of using evanescent field absorption based sensing in conjunction with capillary electrophoresis for label free detection. We have proposed a novel design to couple the microchannel network with U-bend waveguides in a single step patterning of SU-8. In this novel design, the optical waveguide forms part of the microchannel wall, which aids in the detection process. The suitability of the device for optical applications was proved by absorbance measurement between 450 and 780 nm using Methylene Blue dye. Absorbance measurements were done by passing various concentrations of dye solutions through 200 mm and 500 mu m microchannels. The device was also found sensitive to the refractive index (RI) of fluid flowing in the channel. The RI sensitivity was tested by passing sucrose solutions of varying concentrations through the channels and measuring absorbance across the integrated U-bend waveguides. The results indicate that such structures can be used easily for label free detection of molecules either by evanescent wave absorption or by changes associated with RI changes in the microenvironment around a waveguide.