Optofluidic Sensing

Conventional optical spectroscopy and imaging systems are large, complex and costly optoelectronic instruments comprised of lasers, spectrophotometers, and detectors. Often, their size is the limiting factor for their use in certain applications such as in-situ monitoring of physiological processes and distributed environmental sensing. In practice, there are strong demands for miniaturized, integrated devices for biomedical applications.

Recent advances in micro-photonics and electronic devices have led to small but efficient components/modules. These technologies are mostly built upon well-established microelectronic technologies for integrated circuitry. When conventional devices are replaced with micro-components, new applications and capabilities can be facilitated. Moreover, it usually leads to significant cost reductions and increases in yield associated with mass production.

The overall objectives of this project area include (i) develop novel micro-optical sensing and imaging device technology with spectrally- and temporally-resolved optical signal acquisition; (ii) investigate the integration and packaging of complete sensing/imaging devices; and (iii) study the applications of such devices in biomedical and environmental applications. The proposed program will be based on the Micro/Nano Systems Lab and focus on integrated device technology development. Its success will allow translation of such technology to applications in biomedical diagnosis, drug discovery, and environmental monitoring.

Publications:

• Tianqi Hong, Meimei Peng, Marek Smieja, Qiyin Fang, “Representing particles' motion patterns in microfluidic imaging platform using deep variational embeddings,” Journal of Physics: Photonics, 7(3):035005, 2025 (online)
• Tianqi Hong, Meimei Peng, Younggy Kim, Herb E. Schellhorn, Qiyin Fang, “Automated Cell Profiling in Imaging Flow Cytometry with Annotation-Efficient Learning,” Optics & Laser Technology, 181, 111992, 2025, doi:10.1016/j.optlastec.2024.111992. (Online)
• Tianqi Hong, Meimei R. Peng, Qiyin Fang, “Chapter 00024 - Biophotonics in Microsystems”, Reference Module in Materials Science and Materials Engineering, Elsevier, 2024, ISBN 9780128035818 (DOI: 10.1016/B978-0-323-95478-5.00024-8)
• Xu Mei, Qiyin Fang, and P. Ravi Selvaganapathy, “Three-dimensional oxygen concentration monitoring in hydrogels using low-cost phosphorescence lifetime imaging for tissue engineering,” Biomed. Opt. Express 14, 4759-4774 (2023) Open Access
• Yiping Wang, Mustafaa Wahab, Tianqi Hong, Kyle Molinari, Gail M. Gauvreau, Ruth P. Cusack, Zhen Gao, Imran Satia, and Qiyin Fang, “Automated Cough Analysis with Convolutional Recurrent Neural Network” Bioengineering 11(11):1105, 2024, (doi:10.3390/bioengineering11111105).
• Bo Xiong, Tianqi Hong, Herb Schellhorn, Qiyin Fang, “Dual-Modality Imaging Microfluidic Cytometer for Onsite Detection of Phytoplankton,” Photonics 8, 435, 2021. doi:10.3390/photonics8100435 (Open Access)
• Bo Xiong, Eric Mahoney, Joe F. Lo, Qiyin Fang, “A Frequency-domain optofluidic dissolved oxygen sensor with total internal reflection design for in situ monitoring”, IEEE Selected Topics in Quantum Electronics, 27(4):1-7 2021, doi.org/10.1109/JSTQE.2020.2997810 (Preprint PDF)
• Eric James Mahoney, Bo Xiong, and Qiyin Fang, “Optical model of light propagation in total internal reflection fluorescence sensors,” Applied Optics 59(34):10651-10660, 2020, doi:10.1364/AO.404112 (online)
• Bo Xiong, Qiyin Fang, “Luminescence lifetime imaging using a cellphone camera with an electronic rolling shutter”, Optics Letters, 45(1): 81-84, 2020, doi.org/10.1364/OL.45.000081 (Online)
• Eric Mahoney, Jessica Kun, Marek Smieja, Qiyin Fang, “Review—Point-of-Care Urinalysis with Emerging Sensing and Imaging Technologies,” Journal of Electrochemical Society, 167(3): 037518, 2020, doi.org/10.1149/2.0182003JES (Open Access)
• Jessica Kun, Marek Smieja, Bo Xiong, Leyla Soleymani, Qiyin Fang, “The Use of Motion Analysis as Particle Biomarkers in Lensless Optofluidic Projection Imaging for Point of Care Urine Analysis,” Scientific Reports 9, 17255, 2019, doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-53477-8 (Open Access)
• Eric Mahoney, Huan-Huan Hsu, Fei Du, Bo Xiong, P. Ravi Selvaganapathy, and Qiyin Fang, “Optofluidic Dissolved Oxygen Sensing With Sensitivity Enhancement Through Multiple Reflections,” IEEE Sensors 19(22): 10452-10460, 2019, doi.org/10.1109/JSEN.2019.2932414 (online)
• Christina M. Gabardo, Robert C. Adams-McGavin, Barnabas C. Fung, Eric J. Mahoney, Qiyin Fang, Leyla Soleymani, “Rapid prototyping of all-solution-processed multi-lengthscale electrodes using polymer-induced thin film wrinkling,” Scientific Reports 7, 42543, 2017. (Open Access)
• S. C. Goh, Y. Luan, XG Wang, H. Du, C. Chau, H. E. Schellhorn, J. L. Brash, H. Chen, and Q. Fang, “Polydopamine-polyethylene glycol-albumin antifouling coatings on multiple substrates,” Journal of Materials Chemistry B, 6: 940-949, 2018 (Online)
• Yushan Zhang, Benjamin R. Watts, Tianyi Guo, Zhiyi Zhang, Changqing Xu, and Qiyin Fang, “Optofluidic Device Based Microflow Cytometers for Particle/Cell Detection: A Review,” Micromachines 7(4): 70, 2016; doi: 10.3390/mi7040070. (Open Access)
• Tianyi Guo, M. Jamal Deen, C-Q, Xu, Qiyin Fang, P. Ravi Selvaganapathy, Haiying Zhang, “Observation of ultraslow stress release in silicon nitride film on CaF2,” J. of Vacuum Science & Technology A, 33, 041515, 2015 (PDF)
• R. Liu, Z. Zhao, L. Zou, Q. Fang, L. Chen, A. Argento, J. F. Lo, “Compact, non-invasive frequency domain lifetime differentiation of collagens and elastin,” Sensors and Actuators, B: Chemical, 219(8): 289-293, 2015 (PDF)
• Tianyi Guo, Yin Wei, Changqing Xu, Benjamin R. Watts, Zhiyi Zhang, Qiyin Fang, Haiying Zhang, P. Ravi Selvaganapathy, and M. Jamal Deen, “Counting of E. Coli by a Micro-flow Cytometer Based on a Photonic-Microfluidic Integrated Device,” Electrophoresis, 36(2): 298-304, 2015 (PDF).
• Leo Hsu, P. Ravi Selvaganapathy, J. Brash, Q. Fang, C-Q. Xu, M. Jamal Deen, and Hong Chen, “Development of a low-cost Hemin-based dissolved oxygen sensor with anti-biofouling coating for water monitoring,” IEEE Sensors, 14(10):3400-3407, 2014 (PDF)
• Zhiyun Li, M. Jamal Deen, Qiyin Fang, and P. R. Selvaganapathy, “Design of a flat field concave-grating-based micro-Raman spectrometer for environmental applications,” Applied Optics, 51(28):6855-6863, 2012 (PDF).
• J. F. Lo, P. Butte, Q. Fang, S. J. Chen, T. Papaioannou, E. S. Kim, M. Gundersen, L. Marcu, “Multilayered MOEMS tunable spectrometer for fluorescence lifetime detection,” IEEE Photonics Technology Letters, 20(7):486-488, 2010. (PDF)
• Joe Lo, Shi-Jui Chen, Qiyin Fang, Thanassis Papaioannou, Eun-Sok Kim, Martin Gundersen and Laura Marcu, “Performance of Diaphragmed Microlens for a Packaged Microspectrometer,” Sensors, 9: 859-868, 2009 (PDF)
• Munir El-Desouki, M. Jamal Deen, Qiyin Fang, Louis W. C. Liu, Frances Tse and David Armstrong, “CMOS Image Sensors for High Speed Applications,” Sensors, 9: 430-444, 2009. (PDF)
• J. F. Lo, Q. Fang, L. Marcu and E. S. Kim, “Wafer-level packaging of three-dimensional MOEMS device with lens diaphragm,” IEEE International Conference on Micro-Electrical-Mechanical Systems (MEMS), Jan. 21-25, 2007, Japan. (PDF)