Working visit to Swiss Federal Institute of Technology- EPFL

During the working visit, Marta Janczuk-Richter was conducting research in the Bionanophotonic Systems Laboratory Group (BIOS) led by professor Hatice Altug in the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL) in Switzerland. The main goal of the visit was to become familiar with the preparation and measurements of plasmonic biosensors.

During her stay, she learned about different plasmonic structures that can be used for biosensing applications with particular regard to gold nanohole arrays (NHAs). NHAs have unique capabilities for multiplexed and label-free detection and are promising for miniaturization and integration into lab-on-a-chip devices. The sub-wavelength NHAs fabricated on optically thick metal films support the extraordinary optical transmission (EOT) phenomenon enabling the NHAs to be highly sensitive to minute local refractive index changes, induced e.g. by biomolecules binding to the sensor surface. These changes are monitored by tracking the variations of the transmission spectra in real-time.

The scope of the training included: reading the literature about NHA, chemical modifications of gold NHA substrates, preparation of the microfluidic setup, preparation of the equipment for measurements, conducting the measurements with the use of customized inverted microscope supported by spectrophotometer and CCD camera, methods of eukaryotic cell culture.

Moreover, during the working visit, Marta was analyzing obtained data as well as she participated in group meetings, seminars, and lectures given in the EPFL. She also gave a talk about her current research during a group seminar.

Performed research and new skill acquired during the trip are beneficial for Marta’s Ph.D. studies as well as for further collaboration between Surface Nanoengineering for Chemo- and Biosensors Group and Physical Optics and Biophotonics Group and other groups in the Institute. The trip has also opened the way to possible future collaboration with a world-class scientific facility.

Visitor

Marta Janczuk-Richter

Dates

Jan 15-Feb 11, 2018

Location

EPFL - Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne, Switzerland