Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1-2008

Publication Title

Optic Express

Volume

16

Issue Number

3

First Page

1577

Last Page

1582

DOI

10.1364/OE.16.001577

Disciplines

Biomedical | Biomedical Engineering and Bioengineering

Abstract

We demonstrate microfluidic devices for terahertz spectroscopy of biomolecules in aqueous solutions. The devices are fabricated out of a plastic material that is both mechanically rigid and optically transparent with near-zero dispersion in the terahertz frequency range. Using a low-power terahertz time-domain spectrometer, we experimentally measure the absorption spectra of the vibrational modes of bovine serum albumin from 0.5–2.5 THz and find good agreement with previously reported data obtained using large-volume solutions and a high-power free-electron laser. Our results demonstrate the feasibility of performing high sensitivity terahertz spectroscopy of biomolecules in aqueous solutions with detectable molecular quantities as small as 10 picomoles using microfluidic devices.

Comments

This paper was published in Optic Express and is made available as an electronic reprint with the permission of OSA. The paper can be found at the following URL on the OSA website:http://dx.doi.org/10.1364/OE.16.001577. Systematic or multiple reproduction or distribution to multiple locations via electronic or other means is prohibited and is subject to penalties under law.

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