Label-free biosensor based on an electrical tracing-assisted silicon microring resonator with a low-cost broadband source

We present a novel biosensor based on an electrical tracing-assisted silicon dual-microring resonator sensor system. The dual-microring system comprises one microring resonator as a sensing element and the other microring resonator integrated with an electrical controller as a tracing element. The resonance wavelength shift of the sensing microring induced by the refractive index change due to antigen–ligand bindings is traced and determined by direct voltage applied to the electrical tunable tracing microring. The sensor system enables the use of a low-cost broadband light source instead of a bulky and expensive tunable laser, which allows the development of cost-effective point-of-care diagnostic devices by significantly reducing the device cost and increasing its portability. The sensing capability of the developed dual-microring sensor was investigated using biotin–streptavidin binding as a model system. We have demonstrated the quantitative detection of streptavidin over a broad range of concentrations down to 190 pM by monitoring the electrical power applied to the tracing ring. We have also validated the sensing principle of the dual-microring system by a direct comparison between the calculated and measured values for the resonance wavelength shift of the sensing microring. Furthermore, we have shown the quantitative and specific detection of a well-known breast cancer biomarker, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), in a bovine serum albumin solution using the antibody-modified dual-microring sensor system.

► A noble electrical tracing-assisted dual-microring system was developed.
► An inexpensive broadband light source was used instead of a tunable laser.
► Label-free and specific detection of HER2.
► The new platform opens new opportunities for applications in portable POC devices.