Biosensors based on optomechanical components: Life, Light and Sound (LILAS, 2024-2026)

(Ref.: CNS2023-145717, funded by the Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades, Spain, and co-funded by the European Union)

Dr. Martina Delgado has been awarded this project on optical fiber biosensors based on opto-mechanics. The project is funded by the Research Consolidation Program of the Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades, and co-funded by the European Union (Next Generation EU).

The objectives of the project have a high innovation potential, and focus on demonstrating the mass balance concept transferred to phononics + photonics.

Optical Fibers and Signal Processing: Bio-Applications (FOPS-Bio, 2023-2026)

(Ref.: CIPROM/2022/30, funded by the Generalitat Valenciana, Spain)

This project is funded by the High Quality Research Groups Program (PROMETEO) of the Generalitat Valenciana. We propose the development of advanced 3D imaging techniques, new concepts for biosensing based on opto-mechanics and acousto-optics, and the development of hybrid optical/photoacoustic microscopes.

The project involves three research units:

• The Laboratory of Fiber Optics (LFO),
• The Diffractive Optics Group and
• The Diffraction and 3D Imaging Laboratory.

Optomechanical fiber optic sensors for the green transition (FIBO-GREEN, 2022-2024)

(Ref.: TED2021-130200B-I00, co-funded by the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación and the European Regional Development Fund (Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional, FEDER))

In this project, we propose the development of fiber optic sensors for the Green Transition. Specifically, we focus on two specific targets: (1) hydrogen, for the detection of leaks in storage facilities, and (2) malathion, as a proof of concept for the detection of pollutants in soil and water.

The optical fiber sensor solutions proposed are based on new concepts and will give rise to a new technology that could be exploited in a wide range of applications.

Acoustic waves in optical fibers and microcavities (OAFOM, 2020-2023)

(Ref.: PID2019-104276RB-I00, co-funded by the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación and the European Regional Development Fund (Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional, FEDER))

The main objective of this project is the development of in-fiber optomechanics and fiber-coupled acoustic resonators. The project includes the development of optical techniques for the generation and detection of acoustic waves in optical fibers and microresonators.

The project focus in two different areas of application for the new techniques and concepts investigated: biosensing and laser mode-locking.

Integrated Photonics-Nano Technologies for Bioapplications (IPN-Bio, 2020-2025)

(Ref.: H2020-MSCA-RISE-2019-872049, funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No 872049)

The IPN-Bio aims to foster and develop long-term interdisciplinary, inter-sectoral and international collaboration between participating organisations through R&I staff exchanges to share knowledge and ideas, transfer skills and boost career opportunities. The project objectives and challenges present a balanced mix between industrial application focused knowledge transfer and development and more far-looking studies for potentially ground-breaking applications by exploiting new emerging opportunities with the integration of photonic technology (fibre gratings, fibre tapers, photonic micro/nano structures, multi-wavelength and quantum light sources), nanotech and advanced two-dimensional (2D) layered materials (graphene, transition metal dichalcogenides, black phosphorus) for the applications in health care and biomedical (label-free biosensing, early diagnosis of cancer and disease, real-time bioimaging), food safety and environmental monitoring.

New Ultrafast Spectroscopy Techniques (2020-2021)

(Ref.: IDIFEDER/2020/064, co-funded by the Generalitat Valenciana and the European Union)

This project will contribute significantly to improve the facilities available in the research group for the characterization of new light sources and advanced photonic devices, both in the time and spectral domains.

Optical Fibers and Signal Processing (FOPS, 2019-2022)

(Ref.: PROMETEO/2019/048, funded by the Generalitat Valenciana, Spain)

This project is funded by the High Quality Research Groups Program (PROMETEO) of the Generalitat Valenciana. The research project of our group is focused on the development of new techniques and light sources for biomedical imaging.

The project involves three research units:

• The Optical Fibers Laboratory,
• The Diffractive Optics Group and
• The Diffraction and 3D Imaging Laboratory.

Optical fiber light source (2018)

(Ref.: INNVAL10/18/014, funded by the Agencia Valenciana de la Innovación (AVI), Generalitat Valenciana, Spain)

The objective of this project is the development of special fiber light sources for some specific industrial applications and includes demonstrations to proof the technical and commercial viability of the technology.

Optical fiber light sources for advanced imaging (2017-2019)

(Ref.: TEC2016-76664-C2-1-R, funded by the State Research Agency of Spain (Agencia Estatal de Investigación, AEI) and the European Regional Development Fund (Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional, FEDER))

The objective of the Project is the development of light sources based on optical fiber technologies adapted to advanced imaging techniques, e.g., Coherent Anti-Stokes Raman Scattering (CARS) and Stimulated Raman Scattering (SRS).

The project involves the development of picosecond fiber lasers, nonlinear microstructured fibers and special fiber components. The implementation of systems working at different wavelength ranges will be investigated.

Fiber optic biosensors based on acousto-optic interaction in fiber (2017)

(Ref.: UV-INV-AE16-485280, funded by the program Accions Especials d’Investigació of the University of Valencia, Spain)

Dr. Martina Delgado will develop this project on optical fiber biosensors. The objective of the project is to exploit the in-fiber acousto-optic interaction for the development of novel sensors. The project aims to design and fabricate multiplexed biosensors for the simultaneous detection of several substrates in a single device

Bioimagen microscópica con láseres de luz blanca (Imaginewhite, 2014-2016)

(Ref.: RTC-2014-2060-1, funded by the Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad of Spain)

Imaginewhite is led by FYLA LASER S. L. (http://www.fyla.com/) and its objective is the development of white light sources based on fiber-optic technologies for biomedical microscopy applications.

The Laboratory of Fiber Optics of the University of Valencia (LFO-UV) and the Superresolution Light Microscopy & Nanoscopy Unit of the Institute of Photonic Sciences (SNL-ICFO) collaborate in this project with FYLA LASER S.L.

Optical Fibers and Signal Processing (FOPS, 2014-2017)

(Ref.: PROMETEOII/2014/072, http://www.uv.es/fops)

This project is funded by the Generalitat Valenciana, Program PROMETEO 2014 Phase II. The objective of this program is to support high quality research groups in the Comunitat Valenciana. Our group has renewed the project for a period of 4 years. The research activity of the group is structured in three sections:

• The Optical Fibers Laboratory,
• The Diffractive Optics Group and
• The Diffraction and 3D Imaging Laboratory.

Light sources based on optical fibers with special modes (2014-2016)

(Ref.: TEC2013-46643-C2-1-R, funded by the Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad of Spain and the European Regional Development Fund)

The central idea of the project is the use of the modal spectrum of the optical fibers in order to take profit of the particular properties of specific high-order modes. This subject lies within the context of developing high capability optical communications by exploiting space division multiplexing techniques, few mode fibers and multi-core fibers. The design of an optical fiber permits to obtain modes whose properties (dispersion, modal area, intensity distribution) are very different from the ones of the fundamental mode. Individual excitation and propagation of these modes make feasible the use of these properties in different applications related but not restricted to communications, such as lasers, amplifiers, special light sources (supercontinuum, photon pairs, frequency combs, etc.), sensors and optical switches

International Collaboration on Integrated Photonics Technologies for Advanced Bioapplications (iPhoto-Bio, 2014-2018)

(Ref.: PIRSES-GA-2013-612267, http://cordis.europa.eu/projects/rcn/109755_en.html)

The objective of the proposed joint exchange programme "iPhoto-Bio" is to establish long-term stable research cooperation between the partners with complimentary expertise and knowledge. The project objectives and challenges present a balanced mix between industrial application focused knowledge transfer and development and more far-looking studies for potentially ground-breaking applications by exploiting new emerging opportunities with the integration of photonic components and systems (photonic crystal fibres, fibre tapers and tips, fibre gratings, micro-nano-bio systems), new functional techniques and innovative materials (nanoparticles, biocompatible materials, laser micromachining, surface Plasmon technology, Terahertz detection technique) for advanced applications in the health and biomedical (i.e. label-free biosensing, realtime monitoring, early diagnosis of disease), food sectors (quality and safety) and environment. No an individual group in EU can accomplish the proposed work alone, the proposal collaborations with non-EU project partners are therefore vital to gain their skills and expertise in the above-mentioned areas.

Biomedial Imaging (2012-2015)

(Ref.: ISIC-2012-013, http://www.imagenbiomedica.i3m.upv.es/es/index.php)

The ISIC in Biomedical Imaging has been created to encourage the synergies among the research fields in which its groups are worldwide renowned: Nanomaterials, ultrasounds, laser technology, gamma rays, optical spectroscopy, photonics, optical fibers, quantum information and electronic microscopy.

The goals of the ISIC in Biomedical Imaging are:

1. Promotion of cooperative research focused on the development of novel techniques and instrumentation for cancer detection and treatment in biomedicine.
2. Knowledge transfer to hi-tech companies by means of patents and the promotion of spin-off companies.
3. Training of young scientists in novel biomedical imaging techniques taking advantage of the participation of the members of the ISIC in masters and PhD studenthips.

Development of a low-cost femtosecond laser for the industry (FEMTOLASER, 2011-2014)

(Ref.: IPT-2011-1121-020000, http://www.femtolaserproject.com/index.php/en)

The objective of the project is the development and manufacture in Spain of a femtosecond laser system, low average power (1 W), small size (portable) and affordable (low cost) for industrial use.

Photonic crystal fiber supercontinuum and laser sources (2009-2013)

(Ref.: TEC2008-05490)

The aim of this project is to obtain new all-fiber light sources based on the photonic crystal fiber (PCF) technology. We will focus on fiber lasers operating on continuous wave, Q-switched or mode-locked regime, and their combination with highly non-linear PCF for supercontinuum generation in all-fiber systems.

The project includes the fabrication of rare-earth-doped PCF, nonlinear PCF and other special fibers as dual-core, photosensitive and polarizing PCF. We will take advantage of different postprocessing techniques, as tapering and Bragg gratings photo-inscription, to realize the PCF components that the project requires. Acousto-optic in-fiber interaction and nonlinear coupling in dual-core PCF will be exploited as all-fiber modulators. The tapering of PCF will permit a precise engineering of the group velocity dispersion, the enhancement of the acousto-optic interaction, a fine control of the coupling in dual-core PCF and the mode adaptation between dissimilar fibers.

In addition to analyze real PCF, taking into account the details of the geometry by means of an electronic microscope image, we will develop automatic designing tools to obtain PCF with specific properties. We will address the vector propagation of optical pulses in PCF and PCF tapers by solving properly the generalized nonlinear Schrödinger equation, in order to study the polarization dynamics of supercontinuum generation and the design of taper transitions to attain adiabatic soliton compression to the few-optical-cycle regime. Finally, we will tackle the task of describing the evolution of the mutual coherence function of short pulsed light in nonlinear regime after propagation inside PCF.