Quantitative analysis of enhanced light irradiance in waveguide-based fluorescent microarrays

Probing microarray assays in the presence of a hybridization mix retrieves precious information on hybridization kinetics. However, in common detection schemes, useful surface signals compete with the high supernatant background from labelled targets in the mix. A known solution consists in exciting specifically the microarray surface with evanescent fields. Configurations using planar optical waveguides to produce such fields are shown here to present also a dramatic excitation irradiance enhancement at the guide/surrounding matter interface. We compare theoretically and experimentally a guided excitation with a classical external excitation. A full electromagnetic analysis predicts an irradiance increase higher than 104 for adequately tailored waveguides. We deposited high-index TiO2 sol–gel waveguides on glass substrates according to best simulations. Quantitative enhancement analysis exploiting actual biological fluorescent spots perfectly confirms the irradiance amplification effect of a thin waveguide. The impact of amplification on the design of biochip readers is discussed since it leaves ample margin for simple and low-cost light couplers, advantageous in affordable readers and sensor systems.