Design and simulation of a photonic crystal sensor for accurate blood plasma diagnostics

Abstract

Photonic crystals (PC) are materials with periodic refractive index variations, resulting in photonic band gaps that allow light propagation across specific frequencies. PC-based sensors have gained significant attention in the scientific community for their diverse applications in biomedical sensing. This research presents the design of a novel blood plasma PC-based sensor that utilizes a 532 nm laser light source. The sensor incorporates defects within a 2D crystal, enabling precise modification of its characteristics based on the specific type of impurity introduced. The designed sensor, when simulated, demonstrates the ability to effectively detect both regular and infected blood plasma, with the potential for identifying diverse plasma types. Through optimization of device parameters, the sensor achieves optimal sensitivity of 12.5 nm per refractive index unit (RIU), utilizing a 75% defect relative to the total height of the device, which measures 278.46 nm. This sensitivity makes it well-suited for accurate diagnostics in low-volume blood plasma testing. The proposed sensor exhibits versatility and holds promise for potential utilization in a variety of diagnostic applications that necessitate minimal sample volume and high sensitivity requirements.