Ultra-high sensitive cancerous cells detection and sensing capabilities of photonic biosensor

Sep 24, 2026

Uploaded by Franzy

Ultra-high sensitive cancer cell detection is achieved using a one-dimensional photonic crystal biosensor with a defect, examined theoretically through MATLAB simulations and the transfer matrix method. The biosensor performance is evaluated by varying the period number, defect layer thickness, and incident angle for s-polarized light. Sensing relies on tracking minute refractive-index changes of analytes containing different human cancer cells, shifting the defect mode within the photonic band gap. Under optimum conditions, the defect-mode position shifts from 1538 to 1648 nm, yielding an ultra-high sensitivity of 4270.525928 nm/RIU.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages22

Reading Time55 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Photonic crystals and defect modes

Cancer and early detection approaches

Proposed biosensor concept

Modeling and simulation method

Parameter optimization for ultra-sensitivity

Results and sensing performance

[www. nature.com/scientificreports](www. nature.com/scientificreports) OPEN Ultra‑high sensitive cancerous cells detection and sensing capabilities of photonic biosensor Arafa H. Aly1*, B. A. Mohamed1, M. Al‑Dossari2, S. K. Awasthi3, Emadelden Fouad4 & A. F. Amin 5 The ultra‑high sensitive cancer cell detection capabilities of one‑dimensional photonic crystal with defect have been theoretically examined in this work. The simulations ofthe work have been carried outwith MATLAB programming and transfer matrix method. The performance of the proposed biosensor loaded separately with samples containing different cancer cells has been studied by changing the period number, defect layer thickness, and incident angle corresponding to s polarized light only to identify the parameters under which the proposed design becomes ultra‑sensitive. The working principle of the proposed biosensor is to sense the minute change in the refractive index of the analytes containing different cancer cells of human. This sensing is done shifting the respective defect mode inside photonic band gap of the structure from one position to other nearby position due to change in the refractive index of sample under consideration. Our structure under optimum conditions yields maximum shifting in the position of defect mode from 1538 to 1648 nm corresponding to the samples containing normal and Glioblastoma cells of refractive indices 1.350 and 1.4470 respectively which results a ultra‑high sensitivity of 4270.525928 nm/RIU. The study of controlled and rapid propagation of information via light is one the most emerging areas of research and development in the field of photonic device technology1. The current developments in the material science and engineering have attracted many researchers working in the photonic engineering to develop optoelectronic devices of nano-scale dimensions2. Photonic crystals (PCs) have the magnificent capabilities of handling the time orientated technological challenges successfully as per the industrial demand. The ease of fabrication involved in one-dimensional (1d) photonic structures has given them edge over two-dimensional (2d) and three-dimensional (3d) photonic structures3. The participation of different materials layers in the unit cell of the PC may allow them to group into binary, ternary, quaternary photonic structures. The directional repetition of unit cell into large number is responsible for formation of 1d, 2d or 3d photonic structures. PCs have an especial property of photonic band gaps (PBGs) due to the periodic repetition of layers of different refractive indices leading to the constructive and destructive interference between the rays of electromagnetic waves (EMWs) refracted and reflected from the interfaces separating any two media of the structure respectively because of multiple Bragg scattering4,5. The frequencies of EMWs interfere destructively are not allowed to pass through the structure and are responsible for creation of PBG. If the deformity is created into the photonic structure, a defect mode of high transmittance appears inside PBG. The position and intensity of the defect mode is dependent upon the refractive index of the deformity6–9. This excellent property of PCs has attracted the attention of the researchers to use them for various biosensing applications10, 11. Cancer is a most common diseases which allows the uncontrollable growth of cell in human body and has ability to infect any part of the human body12, 13. Actually, human body allow the growth of new cell which multiply together to form new cells as per the requirement of the body. The lifetime of every cell is fixed so when the cells become old or damaged body may develop new cells automatically to replace older one14. But the present life style is breaking down this natural process of cell regeneration and allowing the abnormal growth of damaged or deadly cells in the human body15. The lumps of trillions of damaged cells

FAQs

What biosensor structure is proposed for ultra-sensitive cancer cell detection?

The study proposes a one-dimensional photonic crystal with a defect to detect cancer cells through refractive-index-induced changes of the defect mode within the photonic band gap.

How is ultra-sensitivity achieved and evaluated in the simulations?

Ultra-sensitivity is evaluated by MATLAB simulations using the transfer matrix method while varying period number, defect layer thickness, and incident angle for s-polarized light.

What sensing mechanism converts cancer-cell refractive-index changes into measurable optical shifts?

The biosensor senses the minute refractive-index change of analytes by shifting the defect mode position inside the photonic band gap, caused by the refractive-index change of the cancer cells.

Sep 24, 2026

Uploaded by Franzy