Bio-sensing using nanocrystal lasing in whispering gallery mode microcavities – Nanowhispers

Biomolecular detection using energy transfer between a donor and an acceptor located on a pair of antibodies is a one-step, no-wash, method that is simple to implement. It remains however inefficient because it is limited to donor-acceptor separation distances of a few nm, while antibody-antigen complexes are generally larger. In this project we will break this limitation by developing a new type of sensor, using fluorescent semiconductor nanocrystals coupled to a laser microcavity as donors and dye-loaded nanoparticles as acceptors. The presence of the biomolecular target will enable energy transfer between the cavity and the acceptor dyes. This will provide a clear optical signature of the antigen/analyte presence. The depth of the cavity evanescent field will enable transfer over large distances, while the cavity will provide light confinement and electromagnetic field exaltation, leading to a high detection sensitivity.