Integrated microring resonator biosensors for monitoring cell growth and detection of toxic chemicals in water.

Integrated microring resonators fabricated on silicon wafers were used as signal transducers to detect alterations in physical traits of attached live mammalian cells. Cell adhesion and growth events could be monitored by the shift in resonance frequency of the microring resonator. Toxic chemical-induced changes in cell motility were rapidly detected based on variations in the fluctuation of resonance frequency. Microring resonators modified with an endothelial cell line (MS1) adhered onto its surface were used to detect the presence of two toxic chemicals, viz. sodium pentachlorophenate and Aldicarb at concentrations above the military exposure guideline levels within a duration of 1 h.