Christos Adamopoulos

EECS Department, University of California, Berkeley

Technical Report No. UCB/EECS-2023-241

December 1, 2023

Label-free miniaturized optical sensors can have a tremendous impact on highly sensitive and scalable Point-of-Care (PoC) diagnostics by monitoring in real-time molecular interactions without any labels. However, current biophotonic platforms are limited by complex optical and external readout equipment, precluding their use in a PoC setting. In this research, we aim to address this challenge by developing a first of its kind fully integrated electronic-photonic real-time label-free molecular sensor utilizing micro-ring resonators (MRRs) co-integrated with on-chip electronics in a high volume advanced electronic process. This technology will reduce cost and enable self-contained and miniaturized Point-of-Care devices that are needed in healthcare applications.

This thesis introduces an arrayed electronic-photonic system-on-chip (EPSoC) in GlobalFoundries (GF) 45nm RFSOI with 60 5μm radius MRRs connected to on-chip receivers, approaching a limit of detection (LoD) equivalent to a single 140nm viral particle. In order to deliver multiple fluidic solutions and enable multi-analyte sensing, we propose an efficient packaging strategy for fabricating multi-channel microfluidic networks interfacing with mm-scale chips. Leveraging co-integration of planar MRRs with on-chip receivers, we eliminate the need for a tunable laser and external readout equipment by shifting the requirements of resonance tuning and readout processing to the electronic domain. To further enhance the LoD we propose a dual-ring phase-based sensing architecture, boosting the system’s sensitivity by 3.7x compared to intensity-based single MRR schemes. The inherent intrinsic limitations of MRRs due to environmental variations are addressed with an on-chip differential scheme using sensing and reference rings to cancel common mode errors. We demonstrate the sensing capabilities of the EPSoC by monitoring in real-time binding events of proteins and nanoparticles, unlocking the door towards self-contained fully integrated Lab-on-Chip (LoC) photonic sensors for PoC applications.

Advisors: Vladimir Stojanovic

---

BibTeX citation:

@phdthesis{Adamopoulos:EECS-2023-241,
    Author= {Adamopoulos, Christos},
    Editor= {Stojanovic, Vladimir},
    Title= {Fully Integrated Electronic-Biophotonic System-on-Chip for Real-Time Label-Free Molecular Sensing},
    School= {EECS Department, University of California, Berkeley},
    Year= {2023},
    Month= {Dec},
    Url= {http://www2.eecs.berkeley.edu/Pubs/TechRpts/2023/EECS-2023-241.html},
    Number= {UCB/EECS-2023-241},
    Abstract= {Label-free miniaturized optical sensors can have a tremendous impact on highly sensitive and scalable Point-of-Care (PoC) diagnostics by monitoring in real-time molecular interactions without any labels. However, current biophotonic platforms are limited by complex optical and external readout equipment, precluding their use in a PoC setting. In this research, we aim to address this challenge by developing a first of its kind fully integrated electronic-photonic real-time label-free molecular sensor utilizing micro-ring resonators (MRRs) co-integrated with on-chip electronics in a high volume advanced electronic process. This technology will reduce cost and enable self-contained and miniaturized Point-of-Care devices that are needed in healthcare applications.

This thesis introduces an arrayed electronic-photonic system-on-chip (EPSoC) in GlobalFoundries (GF) 45nm RFSOI with 60 5μm radius MRRs connected to on-chip receivers, approaching a limit of detection (LoD) equivalent to a single 140nm viral particle. In order to deliver multiple fluidic solutions and enable multi-analyte sensing, we propose an efficient packaging strategy for fabricating multi-channel microfluidic networks interfacing with mm-scale chips. Leveraging co-integration of planar MRRs with on-chip receivers, we eliminate the need for a tunable laser and external readout equipment by shifting the requirements of resonance tuning and readout processing to the electronic domain. To further enhance the LoD we propose a dual-ring phase-based sensing architecture, boosting the system’s sensitivity by 3.7x compared to intensity-based single MRR schemes. The inherent intrinsic limitations of MRRs due to environmental variations are addressed with an on-chip differential scheme using sensing and reference rings to cancel common mode errors. We demonstrate the sensing capabilities of the EPSoC by monitoring in real-time binding events of proteins and nanoparticles, unlocking the door towards self-contained fully integrated Lab-on-Chip (LoC) photonic sensors for PoC applications.},
}

EndNote citation:

%0 Thesis
%A Adamopoulos, Christos 
%E Stojanovic, Vladimir 
%T Fully Integrated Electronic-Biophotonic System-on-Chip for Real-Time Label-Free Molecular Sensing
%I EECS Department, University of California, Berkeley
%D 2023
%8 December 1
%@ UCB/EECS-2023-241
%U http://www2.eecs.berkeley.edu/Pubs/TechRpts/2023/EECS-2023-241.html
%F Adamopoulos:EECS-2023-241