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!