Optical fiber sensors applied to biosensing and gas sensing

Supervisor: Prof. Marcelo Martins Werneck (UFRJ).

R&D Team: Rafaela N. Lopes, Alex Dante, Ariadny Arcas, Juan D. Lopez Vargas, Roberto W. Mok, Paulo H. Silva, Regina C. S. B. Allil.

Description: Development of optical fiber sensors based on FBG, SMS (singlemode-multimode-singlemode) structures, side-polished (D-shaped) fibers, and plastic optical fibers (POF) through different physical effects such as exposure of the evanescent field and surface plasmon resonance (SPR). Such sensors are extremely sensitive to variations in the refractive index external to the optical fiber, which opens up a range of possibilities for applications in biosensing, in which the detection of presence and concentration of pathogenic agents, microorganisms or fragments of biological material in small quantities of analyte are desired. The use of microfluidic channels brings even greater benefits, as it allows the use of very small amounts and controlled flow of analyte in the sensitive region of the optical sensor. 

Research Output

Journal Papers

1. LOPES, R.N.; PINTO, P.H.S.; LOPEZ, J. D.; DANTE, A.; MACRAE, A.; ALLIL, R.C.S.B.; WERNECK, M.M. Development of an Immunocapture-Based Polymeric Optical Fiber Sensor for Bacteria Detection. Polymers, v. 16 (6), 861, 2024. DOI

2. LOPEZ, J. D.; DANTE, A.; ALLIL, R.C.S.B.; DEL VILLAR, I., MATIAS, I.R., WERNECK, M.M. Ag@Fe3O4-coated U-shaped plastic optical fiber sensor for H2S detection. Sensors and Actuators B-Chemical, v. 401, p. 135054, 2024. DOI

3. LOPEZ, J. D.; DANTE, A.; ALLIL, R.C.S.B.; WERNECK, M.M. The influence of geometric shape on the performance of refractive index sensors based on plastic optical fibers: simulations and experimental assessment. IEEE Sensors Journal, v. 23, p. 5803-5809, 2023. DOI

4. DANTE, A.; SILVA, P.; LOPES, R. ALLIL, A.; SBANO, A.; ESTEVES, M.E.; SILVA, M.; WERNECK, M.; ALLIL, R. Development of an Escherichia coli optical biosensor with computational validation. Journal of Physics: Conference Series, v. 2407, 012029, pp. 1-6, 2022. DOI

5. LOPEZ, J.D.; KELEY, M.M.; DANTE, A.; WERNECK, M.M. Optical fiber sensor coated with copper and iron oxide nanoparticles for hydrogen sulfide sensing. Optical Fiber Technology, v. 67, 102731, 2021. DOI

Conference Papers

1. ARCAS, A.S.; DANTE, A.; LOPEZ, J.D.; CARVALHO, C.; MIGUEL, M.A.L.; ALLIL, R.C.S.B.; WERNECK, M.M. Probe for monitoring the refractive index and turbidity of craft beers during the fermentation process. In: OSA Optical Sensors and Sensing Congress, 2020, Washington, DC. OSA Optical Sensors and Sensing Congress 2020. LINK

2. KELEY, M.; LOPEZ, J.D.; DANTE, A.; TROVÃO, T.; MOK, R.W.; ROMUALDO, P.H.; BORGHI, F.F.; CARVALHO, C.C.; ALLIL, R.C.S.B.; WERNECK, M.M. Plastic Fiber Optic for Ultrasensitive Gas Detector Applications. In: Second Latin American Workshop on Optical Fiber Sensors (LAWOFS), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 2019. LINK

3. ARCAS, A.S.; DANTE, A.; CARVALHO, C.C.; WERNECK, A.M.S.; ALLIL, R.C.S.B.; WERNECK, M.M. Optical Sensors for Beer Fermentation on Brewing Process. In: The 28th International Conference on Plastic Optical Fibers, Yokohama, Japan, 2019.

4. KELEY, M.M.; BORGHI, F.F.; DANTE, A.; CARVALHO, C.; ALLIL, R.; DUTRA, F.; CARDOSO, P.; MOK, R.W.; GARCAO, L.; WERNECK, M.M.; MELLO, A. U-shaped plastic optical fiber functionalized with metal oxides thin film for H2S gas sensor applications. In: 2018 IEEE International Instrumentation and Measurement Technology Conference (I2MTC), Houston, USA, 2018. DOI

5. ALLIL, R.C.S.B.; LOPES, R.N.; DANTE, A.; MOTA, V.V.C.; CARVALHO, C.C.; WERNECK, M.M. POF-Sensors Applications. In: The 27th International Conference on Plastic Optical Fibers, Seattle, WA, USA, 2018.

6. KELEY, M.; DANTE, A.; DUTRA, F.; ALLIL, R.C.S.B.; CARVALHO, C.C.; WERNECK, M.M. Functionalized POF H2S Sensor. In: The 27th International Conference on Plastic Optical Fibers, 2018, Seattle, WA, USA. Proceedings of the 27th International Conference on Plastic Optical Fibers, 2018.

7. ANDRADE, A.R.B.; ARCAS, A.S.; KELEY, M.; CARVALHO, C.; DANTE, A.; WERNECK, M.M.; ALLIL, R.C.S.B. Study of the Functionalization of Gold Nanoparticles for POF Biosensor Applications. In: The 27th International Conference on Plastic Optical Fibers, Seattle, WA, USA, 2018.

8. NASCIMENTO, I.C.S; DANTE, A.; VALDMAN, A.; FOLLY, R.O.M. Desenvolvimento de um Sensor Óptico de Baixo Custo para Monitoramento On-Line e In-Situ do Crescimento Celular. In: XXII Congresso Brasileiro de Engenharia Química, 2018, São Paulo. Blucher Chemical Engineering Proceedings. São Paulo: Editora Blucher, 2018. p. 3350. DOI