MISSION (Mid- Infrared Silicon Photonic Sensors for Healthcare and Environmental Monitoring)
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Southampton
Department Name: Optoelectronics Research Centre (ORC)
Abstract
Silicon Photonics, the technology of electronic-photonic circuits on silicon chips, is transforming communications technology, particularly data centre communications, and bringing photonics to mass markets, utilising technology in the wavelength range 1.2 micrometres - 1.6 micrometres. Our vision is to extend the technical capability of Silicon Photonics to Mid -Infrared (MIR) wavelengths (3-15 micrometres), to bring the benefits of low cost manufacturing, technology miniaturisation and integration to a plethora of new applications, transforming the daily lives of mass populations. To do this we propose to develop low-cost, high performance, silicon photonics chip-scale sensors operating in the MIR wavelength region. This will change the way that healthcare, and environmental monitoring are managed. The main appeal of the MIR is that it contains strong absorption fingerprints for multiple molecules and substances that enable sensitive and specific detection (e.g. CO2, CH4, H2S, alcohols, proteins, lipids, explosives etc.) and therefore MIR sensors can address challenges in healthcare (e.g. cancer, poisoning, infections), and environmental monitoring (trace gas analysis, climate induced changes, water pollution), as well as other applications such as industrial process control (emission of greenhouse gases), security (detection of explosives and drugs at airports and train stations), or food quality (oils, fruit storage), to name but a few. However, MIR devices are currently realised in bulk optics and integrated MIR photonics is in its infancy, and many MIR components and circuits have either not yet been developed or their performance is inferior to their visible/near-IR counterparts.
Research leaders from the Universities of Southampton, Sheffield and York, the University Hospital Southampton and the National Oceanography Centre will utilise their world leading expertise in photonics, electronics, sensing and packaging to unleash the full potential of integrated MIR photonics. We will realise low cost, mass manufacturable devices and circuits for biomedical and environmental sensing, and subsequently improve performance by on-chip integration with sources, detectors, microfluidic channels, and readout circuits and build demonstrators to highlight the versatility of the technology in important application areas.
We will initially focus on the following applications, which have been chosen by consulting end users of the technology (the NHS and our industrial partners): 1) Therapeutic drug monitoring (e.g. vancomycin, rifampicin and phenytoin); 2) Liquid biopsy (rapid cancer diagnostics from blood samples); 3) Ocean monitoring (CO2, CH4, N2O detection).
Research leaders from the Universities of Southampton, Sheffield and York, the University Hospital Southampton and the National Oceanography Centre will utilise their world leading expertise in photonics, electronics, sensing and packaging to unleash the full potential of integrated MIR photonics. We will realise low cost, mass manufacturable devices and circuits for biomedical and environmental sensing, and subsequently improve performance by on-chip integration with sources, detectors, microfluidic channels, and readout circuits and build demonstrators to highlight the versatility of the technology in important application areas.
We will initially focus on the following applications, which have been chosen by consulting end users of the technology (the NHS and our industrial partners): 1) Therapeutic drug monitoring (e.g. vancomycin, rifampicin and phenytoin); 2) Liquid biopsy (rapid cancer diagnostics from blood samples); 3) Ocean monitoring (CO2, CH4, N2O detection).
Organisations
- University of Southampton (Lead Research Organisation)
- University of Tromso (Collaboration)
- Ordnance Survey (Collaboration)
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Collaboration)
- Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (Collaboration)
- Nanoplus (Collaboration)
- University of Würzburg (Collaboration)
- CMD ltd (Project Partner)
- Gas Sensing Solutions (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
- University of Glasgow (Project Partner)
- University of Surrey (Project Partner)
- Polytechnic University of Bari (Project Partner)
- Pyreos (Project Partner)
- Rockley Photonics Limited (UK) (Project Partner)
- University of Tromsø - The Arctic University of Norway (Project Partner)
- Horiba UK Ltd (Project Partner)
- University of Ulm (Project Partner)
- University of Malaga (Project Partner)
- Southwest Sensors Ltd (Project Partner)
Publications
Stirling CJ
(2021)
Broadband 2 × 2 multimode interference coupler for mid-infrared wavelengths.
in Optics letters
Rowe DJ
(2021)
The Effect of Haematocrit on Measurement of the Mid-Infrared Refractive Index of Plasma in Whole Blood.
in Biosensors
Sánchez Postigo A
(2021)
Subwavelength-grating metamaterial integrated devices for the near- and mid-infrared wavelengths
Qi Y
(2021)
Integrated Switching Circuit for Low-Noise Self-Referenced Mid-Infrared Absorption Sensing Using Silicon Waveguides
in IEEE Photonics Journal
Ahmed W
(2022)
Prediction of Neonatal Respiratory Distress Biomarker Concentration by Application of Machine Learning to Mid-Infrared Spectra.
in Sensors (Basel, Switzerland)
Kharratian S
(2022)
Metasurface-enhanced mid-infrared spectroscopy in the liquid phase
in Chemical Science
Mashanovich G
(2022)
Group IV mid-infrared photonics for communications and sensing
Georgiev GV
(2022)
Near-IR & Mid-IR Silicon Photonics Modulators.
in Sensors (Basel, Switzerland)
Rutherford S
(2022)
Detection of paracetamol binding to albumin in blood serum using 2D-IR spectroscopy
in The Analyst
| Description | Technology is being developed for sensing of therapeutic drugs in the body, early detection of lung cancer, and environmental gases. Significant progress has been made in developing the waveguiding platforms, spectroscoptic photonic devices, detectors, lasers, integration of lasers and photonic integrated circuits. Preliminary measurements have been carried out for some of the target measurements. For the cancer detection discipline, ethical approval for access to 100 clinical samples has been received. |
| Exploitation Route | The technology can be applied to a whole host of measurands as it is a spectroscopic technique. Thus other researchers can benefit from the spectroscopic platforms developed in the programme. |
| Sectors | Aerospace Defence and Marine Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software) Environment Healthcare Manufacturing including Industrial Biotechology Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology |
| URL | https://www.southampton.ac.uk/research/projects/mission-mid-infrared-silicon-photonic-sensors-for-healthcare-environmental |
| Description | We have demonstrated clinically relevant limits of detection for some therapeutic drugs. It remains to be seen if we can integrate the measurement system into a fully interated platform throughout the remainder of the programme. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2024 |
| Sector | Healthcare,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology,Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology |
| Description | New teaching material for postgraduate students |
| Geographic Reach | Local/Municipal/Regional |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| URL | https://www.southampton.ac.uk/courses/modules/opto6007#syllabus |
| Description | Photonics Leadership Group |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| URL | https://photonicsuk.org |
| Description | Silicon photonic thermal photodetectors for mid-infrared sensing |
| Amount | £346,227 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | EP/W020254/1 |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 11/2022 |
| End | 10/2024 |
| Title | New characterisation setup |
| Description | We have built a new characterisation photonics setup for measurements of Si and Ge chips at longer wavelengths. This setup is versatile and enables easy inclusion of new sources and detectors. |
| Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
| Year Produced | 2022 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | The setup is available to researchers in Southampton and UK for the characterisation of integrated photonic circuits at various wavelengths. |
| Title | Dataset for: The Effect of Haematocrit on Measurement of the Mid-Infrared Refractive Index of Plasma in Whole Blood |
| Description | Dataset DOI: https://doi.org/10.5258/SOTON/D1621 Article DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/bios11110417 This data is used in the article 'The effect of haematocrit on the mid-infrared refractive index of blood plasma,' published by Biosensors. The data contained in data.xlsx are those used to plot the figures in the article. Measurement data were collected by ATR-FTIR spectroscopy at the University of Southampton during December 2019. Full methodological details can be found in the article. The XY data for each figure are contained in separate worksheets within data.xlsx. Each dataset is labelled with its name and unit. For plots with several spectral traces with respect to wavenumber, each trace is sampled at identical wavenumbers so wavenumber is only listed once. Briefly, each figure shows: Figure 1: Absorbance spectra of (a) DI water, plasma and whole blood with haematocrit in the range 20-70%, (b) plasma and whole blood with haematocrit in the range 20-70% over a more limited frequency range (1370-1570 cm-1), and (c) absorbance at 1541 cm-1 with respect to haematocrit. Figure 2: Empirical effective penetration depth deff calculated from the measured absorbance and literature k values of water. The dashed trace at wavenumbers > 3700 cm^-1 show the region where deff has been calculated from a ratio where both quantities are approximately equal to zero so cannot be relied upon. Figure 3: Imaginary part of refractive index spectra k for water and whole blood with haematocrit in the range 20 - 70%. Figure 4: Real part of refractive index spectra n for water and whole blood with haematocrit in the range 20 - 70%. Figure 5: Error in (a) real and (c) imaginary parts of plasma refractive index due to haematocrit in the range 20 - 70%. (b) shows the maximum error in n, which occurs at 1560 cm^-1, with respect to haematocrit; (d) shows the corresponding behaviour for k, which occurs at 1541 cm^-1. The data may be reused under Creative Common Attribution v4.0. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| URL | https://eprints.soton.ac.uk/451978/ |
| Description | Collaboration with MIT |
| Organisation | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
| Department | Department of Material Science and Engineering |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Fabrication of mid-IR chips in silicon. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Growth of mid-IR detectors on the mid-IR Si platform. |
| Impact | N/A |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Collaboration with Nanoplus |
| Organisation | Nanoplus |
| Country | Germany |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Sensing experiments |
| Collaborator Contribution | Fabrication of mid-IR lasers |
| Impact | As this is a very recent collaboration there haven't been outputs yet |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Collaboration with Ordnance Survey (OS) |
| Organisation | Ordnance Survey |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | We are fabricating gas sensors that will be tested at OS |
| Collaborator Contribution | Field testing of our gas sensors |
| Impact | N/A |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Collaboration with STFC RAL Space |
| Organisation | Rutherford Appleton Laboratory |
| Department | RAL Space |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | - We have provided advice to the Spectroscopy group at RAL Space concerning the design of Germanium-on-Silicon waveguide chips for spectroscopic sensing. - We have sent existing waveguide chips to RAL Space, which they used to verify that the new characterisation setup that they built could be used to couple mid-infrared light into waveguides. - We have fabricated waveguide chips according to the new design developed by RAL Space, and shipped them. |
| Collaborator Contribution | - RAL Space built a new experimental setup for characterising the transmission of mid-infrared photonic integrated circuits. - They designed a new photonic integrated circuit, for spectroscopic sensing. - They performed sensing experiments using these chips. |
| Impact | No public outputs yet. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Collaboration with University of Wurzburg |
| Organisation | University of Wurzburg |
| Country | Germany |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We are fabricating SOI chips for integration with Wurzburg detectors |
| Collaborator Contribution | They sent us 6 mid-IR detectors fabricated at the University of Wurzburg |
| Impact | Still no outputs, but we expect a couple of journal and conference papers to be submitted/published |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Collaboration with the University of Tromso |
| Organisation | University of Tromso |
| Country | Norway |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Fabrication of Si and Ge chips |
| Collaborator Contribution | Expertise on gas sensing, spectroscopy, polymers for enrichment, usage of specialised setups, staff time |
| Impact | not year available |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Light Up Trails |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Light Up Trails at Sir Harold Hillier Gardens, near Romsey, is an annual evening art exhibition at a public garden running across November and December. In the exhibition, visible light and laser-based exhibits are built along a guided walk through the gardens. With colleagues in the Optoelectronics Research Centre and Physics & Astronomy, MISSION researchers attended this event across four separate evenings to use the exhibits as an entry point to talk about photonics research. Targeting an arts event meant the audience would likely have lower science capital and it provided opportunity to discuss research in an unorthodox environment. Across the evenings, the whole group interacted with approximately 2,250 people, including some groups from disadvantaged schools. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Media interview |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Prof. Mashanovich gave an interview to an online portal in Serbia in which he described research conducted in Southampton and applications in medicine and environmental sensing, among others. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://objektiva.rs/23133-2/ |
| Description | Patient pubic involvement |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Patients, carers and/or patient groups |
| Results and Impact | Patient public involvement (PPI) sessions were run in April and September 2023 in conjunction with the PPI team at University Hospital Southampton and chaired by Dan Owens. The topic for both sessions was about making blood sampling better in children's care. Both sessions were run online to make participation as straightforward as possible, particularly given that the majority of participants were adults with childcare responsibilities. The conversations also extended to adult care as well. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Science and Engineering Day in Southampton |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The stand, The Light Detectives: Saving The World With Microchips, presented the research activity within MISSION through interactive demonstrations accessible to children aged 7 and upwards. This included a spectroscopy puzzle, in which the audience deduced the components of an unknown mixture and a laser alignment challenge to showcase on-chip laser integration. This was contextualised through a discussion of the healthcare and environmental monitoring applications of MISSION, including a model of an Autosub from the National Oceanography Centre. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Stand-up comedy centred on research |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Science comedy is an effective means of public engagement as it generally attracts a different audience to other events. It also encourages a host of skills that are crucial for communication relevant to academic career paths, such as authenticity, storytelling and empathy. Two 'sell-out' performances took place in October (Sam McQuillan) and November (Callum Stirling) in a local bookshop with an audience capacity of 60 people. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |