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This paper is an overview of the recent advances in nanoporous anodic alumina sensing platforms based on the interaction of oligonucleotides and antibodies with bioelements (e.g., virus, bacteria, or biomarkers) that can cause or identify diseases. Nanoporous alumina is the common platform material for all these sensing devices that have an enormous potential for the next-generation bioanalytical systems. Nanoporous alumina is a cost-effective material with morphological flexibility that provides high sensitivity to the sensing systems due to its large surface-to-volume ratio. Immunosensors transduce the signal produced by the specific antibody-antigen interaction. They are widely used for clinical analysis due to the high selectivity and sensitivity of their immunoreaction, transduced by different methods (electrochemical, optical, piezoelectric, etc). Another important, outstanding and more recently type of biosensors are based on the oligonucleotic functionalization of nanoporous alumina. Oligonucleotides can bind to a wide variety of elements (small organic molecules, proteins, or cells) with high selectivity, specificity, and affinity, even higher to those of antibodies. The basic concepts and mechanisms of their sensing methods for health care biosensing are introduced. Their transduction methods and great potential applications will be evaluated and classified in detail, together with a discussion of possible future trends.

The development of aluminum anodization technology features many stages. With the story stretching for almost a century, rather straightforward-from current perspective-technology, raised into an iconic nanofabrication technique. The intrinsic properties of alumina porous structures constitute the vast utility in distinct fields. Nanoporous anodic alumina can be a starting point for: Templates, photonic structures, membranes, drug delivery platforms or nanoparticles, and more. Current state of the art would not be possible without decades of consecutive findings, during which, step by step, the technique was more understood. This review aims at providing an update regarding recent discoveries-improvements in the fabrication technology, a deeper understanding of the process, and a practical application of the material-providing a narrative supported with a proper background.

[EN] A nanoporous anodic alumina (NAA)-based sensor system for the detection of Mycoplasma was developed through the implementation of "molecular gates" selective to the presence of this bacterium. The capped support showed a negligible cargo release, while presence of Mycoplasma genomic DNA resulted in the release of rhodamine B fluorescent dye. This sensor system presents a limit of detection of 20 genomic DNA copies mu L-1 and was applied to the detection of Mycoplasma bacteria in competitive environments, such as culture cell media.

A nanoporous anodic alumina (NAA)-based sensor system for the detection of Mycoplasma was developed through the implementation of "molecular gates" selective to the presence of this bacterium. The capped support showed a negligible cargo release, while presence of Mycoplasma genomic DNA resulted in the release of rhodamine B fluorescent dye. This sensor system presents a limit of detection of 20 genomic DNA copies mu L-1 and was applied to the detection of Mycoplasma bacteria in competitive environments, such as culture cell media.

[EN] We present herein the use of nanoporous anodic alumina (NAA) as a suitable support to implement molecular gates for sensing applications. In our design, a NAA support is loaded with a fluorescent reporter (rhodamine B) and functionalized with a short single-stranded DNA. Then pores are blocked by the subsequent hybridisation of a specific cocaine aptamer. The response of the gated material was studied in aqueous solution. In a typical experiment, the support was immersed in hybridisation buffer solution in the absence or presence of cocaine. At certain times, the release of rhodamine B from pore voids was measured by fluorescence spectroscopy. The capped NAA support showed poor cargo delivery, but presence of cocaine in the solution selectively induced rhodamine B release. By this simple procedure a limit of detection as low as 5 × 10−7 M was calculated for cocaine. The gated NAA was successfully applied to detect cocaine in saliva samples and the possible re-use of the nanostructures was assessed. Based on these results, we believe that NAA could be a suitable support to prepare optical gated probes with a synergic combination of the favourable features of selected gated sensing systems and NAA.

We present herein the use of nanoporous anodic alumina (NAA) as a suitable support to implement "molecular gates" for sensing applications. In our design, a NAA support is loaded with a fluorescent reporter (rhodamine B) and functionalized with a short single-stranded DNA. Then pores are blocked by the subsequent hybridisation of a specific cocaine aptamer. The response of the gated material was studied in aqueous solution. In a typical experiment, the support was immersed in hybridisation buffer solution in the absence or presence of cocaine. At certain times, the release of rhodamine B from pore voids was measured by fluorescence spectroscopy. The capped NAA support showed poor cargo delivery, but presence of cocaine in the solution selectively induced rhodamine B release. By this simple procedure a limit of detection as low as 5 x 10(-7) M was calculated for cocaine. The gated NAA was successfully applied to detect cocaine in saliva samples and the possible re-use of the nanostructures was assessed. Based on these results, we believe that NAA could be a suitable support to prepare optical gated probes with a synergic combination of the favourable features of selected gated sensing systems and NAA.

Reflection in a mirror changes the handedness of the real world, and right-handed objects turn left-handed and vice versa (M. Gardner, The Ambidextrous Universe, Penguin Books, 1964). Also, we learn from electromagnetism textbooks that a flat metallic mirror transforms an electric charge into a virtual opposite charge. Consequently, the mirror image of a magnet is another parallel virtual magnet as the mirror image changes both the charge sign and the curl handedness. Here we report the dramatic modification in the optical response of a silicon nanocavity induced by the Interaction with its image through a flat metallic mirror. The system of real and virtual dipoles can be interpreted as an effective magnetic dipole responsible for a strong enhancement of the cavity scattering cross section.

[EN] Although science fiction literature and art portray extraordinary stories of people interacting with their images behind a mirror, we know that they are not real and belong to the realm of fantasy. However, it is well known that charges or magnets near a good electrical conductor experience real attractive or repulsive forces, respectively, originating in the interaction with their images. Here, we show strong interaction between an optical microcavity and its image under external illumination. Specifically, we use silicon nanospheres whose high refractive index makes well-defined optical resonances feasible. The strong interaction produces attractive and repulsive forces depending on incident wavelength, cavity-metal separation and resonance mode symmetry. These intense repulsive photonic forces warrant a new kind of optical levitation that allows us to accurately manipulate small particles, with important consequences for microscopy, optical sensing and control of light by light at the nanoscale. (C) 2012 Optical Society of America

[EN] We have recently developed a new type of porous silicon we name as porous silicon colloids. They consist of almost perfect spherical silicon nanoparticles with a very smooth surface, able to scatter (and also trap) light very efficiently in a large-span frequency range. Porous silicon colloids have unique properties because of the following: (a) they behave as optical microcavities with a high refractive index, and (b) the intrinsic photoluminescence (PL) emission is coupled to the optical modes of the microcavity resulting in a unique luminescence spectrum profile. The PL spectrum constitutes an optical fingerprint identifying each particle, with application for biosensing. In this paper, we review the synthesis of silicon colloids for developing porous nanoparticles. We also report on the optical properties with special emphasis in the PL emission of porous silicon microcavities. Finally, we present the photonic barcode concept. © 2012 Ramiro-Manzano et al.

[EN] Silicon colloids based microcavities, with sphere size between 1 and 3 micrometers, have been synthesized and optically characterized. Due to both the small cavity volume and the high refractive index of silicon we are able to tune resonances with extremely low mode index, whose electric field distribution resembles those of electronic orbitals. The value of some parameters such as quality factor Q, effective mode volume, and evanescent field have been calculated for several modes. This calculation indicates silicon colloids can be a serious strategy for developing optical microcavities where may coexist both optical modes with large evanescent fields useful for sensing applications, as well as modes with high Q/V ratio values, of the order of 10(9)(lambda/n)(-3). (C) 2011 Optical Society of America

We have recently developed a new type of silicon structure that we refer to as a silicon colloid. This new material consists of almost perfectly spherical silicon micro- and nanoparticles with a very smooth surface. They are able to trap light very efficiently in a large-span frequency range covering the visible to the far infrared regions. Silicon colloids can be thought of as a completely new material for scientific and technological purposes, with manifold applications covering electronics, photonics, cosmetics, or paints, among others. Here, we report on the synthesis of polycrystalline, amorphous, and porous silicon colloids, as well as their optical properties, some applications concerning light filters, and photonic bonding.

[EN] This paper was published in OPTICS EXPRESS and is made available as an electronic reprint with the permission of OSA. The paper can be found at the following URL on the OSA website: http://dx.doi.org/ 10.1364/OE.19.003185. Systematic or multiple reproduction or distribution to multiple locations via electronic or other means is prohibited and is subject to penalties under law, A coupler based on silicon spherical microcavities coupled to silicon waveguides for telecom wavelengths is presented. The light scattered by the microcavity is detected and analyzed as a function of the wavelength. The transmittance signal through the waveguide is strongly attenuated (up to 25 dB) at wavelengths corresponding to the Mie resonances of the microcavity. The coupling between the microcavity and the waveguide is experimentally demonstrated and theoretically modeled with the help of FDTD calculations. © 2011 Optical Society of America.