Abstract
Optofluidics is an exciting new area of study resulting from the fusion of microfluidics and photonics. It broadens the application and extends the functionality of microfluidics and has been extensively investigated in biocontrol, molecular diagnosis, material synthesis, and drug delivery. When light interacts with a microfluidic system, optical force and/or photothermal effects may occur due to the strong interaction between light and liquid. Such opto-physical effects can be used for optical manipulation and sensing due to their unique advantages over conventional microfluidics and photonics, including their simple fabrication process, flexible manipulation capability, compact configuration, and low cost. In this review, we summarize the latest progress in fiber optofluidic (FOF) technology based on optical force and photothermal effects in manipulation and sensing applications. Optical force can be used for optofluidic manipulation and sensing in two categories: stable single optical traps and stable combined optical traps. The photothermal effect can be applied to optofluidics based on two major structures: optical microfibers and optical fiber tips. The advantages and disadvantages of each FOF technology are also discussed.
Highlights
Optofluidics is a reconfigurable, sensitive, and portable technology that combines microfluidic systems and the optical systems [1]
Vaiano et al published an excellent review article about fiber optofluidics, which for the first time summarized the developments of the “lab on fiber (LOF)” concept for biological sensing applications [22]
We summarize the latest progresses in fiber optofluidic (FOF) technology and analyze the correlation between fiber optics and microfluidics
Summary
Optofluidics is a reconfigurable, sensitive, and portable technology that combines microfluidic systems and the optical systems [1]. Optical technology can enhance the sensitivity of optofluidics by introducing new functionality and opto-physical effects and can work at very small sizes in microfluidic channels. Vaiano et al published an excellent review article about fiber optofluidics, which for the first time summarized the developments of the “lab on fiber (LOF)” concept for biological sensing applications [22] They introduced the LOF technologies in three classes: lab on tip, lab around fiber, and lab in fiber, according to the integration location of functional unit. We summarize the latest progresses in fiber optofluidic (FOF) technology and analyze the correlation between fiber optics and microfluidics. We mainly consider the optical force and photothermal effect, because they have been studied extensively, and many applications of manipulation and sensing in optofluidics have been demonstrated. TThhee sscchheemmaattiicc pprriinncciippllee ffoorr ssttaabbllee ssiinnggllee ooppttiiccaall ttrraapp ggeenneerraattiioonn bbyy ((aa)) aa fifibbeerr ttaappeerr aanndd ((bb)) aa dduuaall--bbeeaamm fifibbeerr ttrraapp
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