This PDF file contains the front matter associated with SPIE Proceedings Volume 9341, including the Title Page, Copyright information, Table of Contents, Introduction (if any), and Conference Committee listing.

We present a compact light source designed for arrayed lab-on-chip cell imaging with the motivation of creating a microchip based system for detection of tumor cells. We aim at creating a multicolor light source that can be integrated for on-chip imaging. Colloidal quantum dots (QDs) were used as the emission layer due to their unique capabilities like multicolor emission, multiple available methods of electrical and photo excitation and compatibility with silicon fabrication were achieved. Micropatterning of QDs was used to create both electrically and photo excited light sources. We study the photo activated source as a robust, high intensity light source which can be easily integrated with lab-onchip systems while requiring additional filters and excitation systems and compare it with an electrically excited source with the capability of individually addressable, multicolor sources on a single substrate eliminating the need for additional optical components. To demonstrate the efficacy of our design, we performed ex vivo transmission mode microscopy to evaluate the nucleus-cytoplasm ratios of cancer cells. We showed the capability of imaging of inner cell structures using multiple wavelengths to perform high contrast imaging and observation. We performed immunofluorescence excitation of MDA-MB 231 cancer cells, cultured in a microwell array. Our method provides patterned multicolor light sources and low cost which are suitable for high-throughput microarray cellular imaging.

Diatoms are a common type of phytoplankton characterized by their silica exoskeleton known as a frustule. The diatom frustule is composed of two valves and a series of connecting girdle bands. Each diatom species has a unique frustule shape and valves in particular species display an intricate pattern of pores resembling a photonic crystal structure. We used several numerical techniques to analyze the periodic and quasi-periodic valve pore-network structure in diatoms of the Coscinodiscophyceae order. We quantitatively identify defect locations and pore spacing in the valve and use this information to better understand the optical and biological properties of the diatom.

Erythrocyte-based nanoparticle platforms can offer long circulation times not offered by traditional drug delivery methods. We have developed a novel erythrocyte-based nanoparticle doped with indocyanine green (ICG), the only FDA-approved near-infrared chromophore. Here, we report on the absorption and fluorescence emission characteristics of these nanoparticles fabricated using ICG concentrations in the range of 161-323 μM. These nanoparticles may serve as biocompatible optical materials for various clinical imaging and phototherapeutic applications.

Synthesis and production in nature often provide ideas to design and fabricate advanced biomimetic photonic materials and structures, leading to excellent physical properties and enhanced performance. In addition, the recognition and utilization of natural or biological substances have been typical routes to develop biocompatible and biodegradable materials for medical applications. In this respect, biological lasers utilizing such biomaterials and biostructures have been received considerable attention, given a variety of implications and potentials for bioimaging, biosensing, implantation, and therapy. However, without relying on industrial facilities, eco-friendly massive production of such optical components or systems has not yet been investigated. We show examples of bioproduction of biological lasers using agriculture and fisheries. We anticipate that such approaches will open new possibilities for scalable eco-friendly ‘green’ production of biological photonics components and systems.

The spectral and angle-dependent optical properties of two scarab beetle species belonging to the genus Chrysina are presented. The species display broadband reflectivity and selectively reflect left-circularly polarized light. We use electron microscopy to detail the left-handed, twisted lamellar structure present in these biological systems and imaging scatterometry to characterize their bidirectional reflectance distribution function. We show that the broadband nature of the beetles’ reflectance originates due to the range of pitch dimensions found in the structure.

The adaptive coloration observed in cuttlefish Sepia officinalis skin is facilitated in part by properties of pigmented chromatophores that have not been previously reported. We found that chromatophore coloration is enabled by a tethering system that distributes layered pigment granules, comprised of fluorescent nanostructures, to optimize color intensity as the chromatophores are actuated. The design features gleaned from these studies provide intriguing insights into the development of artificial photonic systems useful for products ranging from conformable, high-definition color displays to optical fabrics capable of adapting their coloration within an ambient environment.

Biocompatible Optical Needle Array (BONA) is showing to be a powerful tool complementing the novel antibacterial blue light therapy. BONA is able to deliver light to deeper skin tissue layers successfully as shown in experiments. In this study, we will discuss BONA’s design, mechanical and optical properties, production method, plus propose improvements to optimize it all. A special skin phantom with photosensitizer was developed in order to investigate how light is delivered inside the tissue. The phantom shows the light scattering pattern through photobleach, allowing us to determine length, thickness and spacing between needles. Other quantitative optical properties as penetration depth were determined using a different phantom (using PDMS). Mechanical properties as needle resistance were determined using one axis of a custom biaxial tensile strain device. The results led us to conclude that besides the great results, there is still room for improvements regarding tip sharpness and manufacturing time and cost, which would be solved with the enhanced fabrication method proposed.