Label-free biosensor by protein grating coupler on planar optical waveguides.

We report a diffraction-based, label-free biosensor on the surface of a planar optical waveguide. By selectively immobilizing proteins on an optical waveguide, the proteins can form the ridge/valley of a latent image optical grating. Binding events with patterned surface proteins dynamically increase grating height and cause an increase in light coupling out of the waveguide. We demonstrate the efficacy of this strategy for protein detection and present the design and fabrication of a device.