Researchers at the University of Illinois led by Brian Cunningham use an iPhone camera as a spectrometer to detect biomolecules.
A custom-designed cradle holds the smartphone in place so that all of the optical components are perfectly aligned for detection in the path of a photonic crystal biosensor made on a plastic substrate.
The smartphone’s computational capabilities and simple user interface enable it to guide a user through the steps of the assay using touchscreen commands via an iPhone App. The phone processes the image converting a sequence of photos into a spectrum and then converts this spectrum into a value for the resonant wavelength of the photonic crystal.
The team are now working to expand the range of assays possible. They envision that this device could be made even more practical by incorporating microfluidic channels for wet samples.
Label-free biodetection using a smartphone
Dustin Gallegos, Kennet D. Long, Hojeong Yu, Peter P. Clark, Yixiao Lin, Sherine George, Pabitra Natha and Brian T. Cunningham
DOI: 10.1039/C3LC40991K
