Purdue Research Foundation

Dongmao Zhang

Dor Ben-Amotz

Vladimir M Shalaev

Vincent Jo Davisson

Vladimir P Drachev

Yong Xie

Melissa Mrozek

Corasi Ortiz

Instruments for molecular detection at the nano-molar to femto-molar concentration level include a longitudinal capillary column () of known wall thickness and diameter. The column () contains a medium () including a target molecule () and a plurality of optically interactive dielectric beads () on the order of about 10meters up to about 10meters and/or metal nanoparticles () on the order of 1-500 nm. A flow inducer () causes longitudinal movement of the target molecule within the column (). A laser () introduces energy laterally with respect to the column () at a wavelength and in a direction selected to have a resonant mode within the capillary column wall () and couple to the medium (). A detector () is positioned to detect Raman scattering occurring along the column () due to the presence of the target molecule.

Plasmonic and/or microcavity enhanced optical protein sensing

Micro-droplets of liquid confining organic molecules of interest are dried on selected planar solvo-phobic substrates under conditions facilitating segregated precipitation of the larger, less soluable analytes toward edge portions of the deposit. Micro-spectrometer imaging using white light and FTIR false color can identify points of interest, and the same optics generally directed perpendicularly to the substrates selectively captures normal Raman spectra from selected points in the deposit. The spectra are manipulated using various data techniques to extract reliable information concerning analytes present at pico-Molar levels. The selected spots can also be subjected to FTIR spectroscopy followed by MALDI mass spectroscopy to obtain a variety of information from the identical specimen.

Process and apparatus for segregation and testing by spectral analysis of solid deposits derived from liquid mixtures

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West Lafayette, IN, United States of America

Dongmao Zhang