1.

WGM in biosensing
REVIEW OF 2. Microdroplet resonators as active
BIOSENSING cavities in biosensing
WITH WGM 3. Review of gain media in WGM

LASERS microlasers for sensing

4. Sensing with WGM microlasers in
living cells and organisms
5. Conclusion
1. WGM IN BIOSENSING
1.1 Building blocks
1.2 Sensing mechanisms
1.3 WGM sensing platforms
1.1 BUILDING
BLOCKS
Gain Medium defines:
• Spectral characteristics
• Temporal characteristics
• Power characteristics
1.1 BUILDING
BLOCKS
• Pump source: supplies energy
• Optical resonator
Parameters

• Photon lifetime
• Lasing threshold
• Finesse: FSR of cavity mode, the number of
roundtrips the light takes in WGM cavity in
photon life-time
1.2 SENSING MECHANISMS
• Changes in the refractive index, which give rise to spectral shifts
• Changes in the effective linewidth
• Monitoring the frequency shifts: Recording the beat note when it spit into 2 modes (scatterer).
• Forster resonance energy transfer (FRET)
• Coherent radiative energy transfer (CRET)
1.3 WGM sensing platforms
• Optofluidic ring resonator-based dye laser (LCORR): the ring cross-section supports WGMs +
provides optical feedback.
• Micro-goblet: dip-pen lithography is used to coat the passive goblet cavity.
• Ultrasound modulation
• LC biosensor
• Optofluidic chip (WGM microlasers sensors directly printed)
LCORR
• Optofluidic laser with

DNA molecules as gain

Materials
• Optofluidic biolasers
Ultrasound
modulation
Enables the development of laser emission-based
microscopy for deep tissue imaging
2. Microdroplet resonators as active
cavities in biosensing
• The higher n liquids have, the less radiation losses
• Air-liquid droplets: High surface tension naturally forms liquid droplets (water).
• Liquid-liquid: Requires immiscibility
Fabricating
methods
• Using a dispenser with sharp tip, slowly push
the liquid out into another liquid or on top
solid surface.
• OR using natural drying
• Self-assembly
Albumen egg
white
WGM droplet microlasers in sensing and
biosensing

• Self-assembled droplet
• Challenges: deformation + evaporation,
mechanical instabilities, positioning issues →
lipids and starch granules may work?
3. Review of gain media in WGM
microlasers for sensing
3.1 Fluorescent dyes
3.2 Fluorescent biomaterials
3.3: Rare-earth elements
3.4: Quantum dots
3.5: Inorganic perovskites
3.1 Fluorescent
dyes

• Provide better biocompatibility than QDs

• Nontoxic
3.2 Fluorescent
biomaterials
• Occurs in living organisms
• Egg white: act as laser sources under optical
excitation with lasing threshold of , Q-factor up to
3000.
• Another example: chicken albumen, lasing
threshold: , Q-factor: 2400
• Require higher excitation energy
• Show promise for in vivo sensing apps
3.3 Rare-earth
elements

• Yb: Er-doped: usually, a stronger pump leads

to higher output. However, in this case, this
behavior may be suppressed if two pump
beams are used.
• Sensing mech: tracking the resonance shift or
Q-factor spoiling
3.4 Quantum dots
Tunable emission wavelengths

More photostable than organic dye

Reach a high quantum yield of fluorescent.

Weak solubility

Toxicity
3.5 Inorganic
perovskites

• , A: center, B: corner, X: on the face

• Allow gradual tuning of the emission
wavelength
• Challenges: their degradation in aqueous
media + low photostability
4. Sensing with WGM microlasers in
living cells and organisms
• 4.1 Single-cell micro-and nanoprobing
• 4.2 WGM microlaser-based sensors in living
system: extra-and intracellular sensing
4.1 Single-cell
micro-and
nanoprobing
• Tagging + in vivo real-time sensing within single
living cells.
• Modified optical fibers
Modified optical
fiber

Optical fiber is insert with SnO2 nanowire

tagged with CdSe
4.2 WGM microlaser-
based sensors in
living system
• Hela cells
• Oil droplet within living cell
5. Conclusion
• WGM microlasers are versatile!
• The difficulty lies on resolving the very small spectral shifts of WGM line of the order of 10MHz in
single-molecule.