Liquid Flow Cell For Surface Plasmon Sensing

Group Members: Ryan McGee, Danica Patrick, Stacie Smith

Project Advisor: Wataru Nakagawa

Project Description:

The goal of this project is to design, build, and test a liquid flow cell for a surface plasmon based optical sensing apparatus. The surface plasmon resonance is a widely used technique for high-performance optical sensing, with applications in biology, chemistry and environmental monitoring. In order to analyze liquid samples with this technique, the fluid under test must be brought into contact with the sensor surface, and then removed (flushed) for a comparative baseline measurement. To facilitate this process, a fluid handling system�consisting of a sample chamber in contact with the optical sensor surface and connected to input/output channels�is to be designed, built and integrated with the requisite laser illumination and optical detection components.

Engineering Constraints:

Numerous factors are considered beyond the technical parts of the design such as economic, sustainability, and manufacturability.� These factors can easily affect the quality, functionality, and efficiency of the final product.� The product first must be economic in that it cannot cost too much to assemble, buy, replace, or fix.� If the product costs too much, it won�t be an efficient product to the consumer and the design process will have been wasted.� Also, the product must have a decent life cycle.� Although in the flow cell the PDMS and gold slide will have to be replaced frequently, the entire apparatus is made to last for at least several years.� The product also must be easy to manufacture and assemble.� The PET polyester is very easy to machine into the flow cell apparatus, and the PDMS is extremely easy to make, mold, and cure.� After this, the product comes together with a total six screws!