Dual-Core Dual-Polished PCF-SPR Sensor for Cancer Cell Detection

Abstract

This article presents a novel photonic crystal fiber-based surface plasmon resonance (PCF-SPR) sensor designed for cancer cell detection within the human body. The sensor's construction involves precise chemical vapor deposition (CVD) to deposit gold, a plasmonic material, on both parallel and opposing peripheral sections of the PCF lattice. The dual-side polished PCF-SPR sensor is systematically positioned near a solution containing cancer cells awaiting detection. An external sensing system monitors changes in the SPR phenomenon, enabling the precise measurement of the refractive index (RI) of the scrutinized cancer cells. The PCF-SPR sensor's intricate design and numerical exploration of its structural parameters are methodically conducted using COMSOL Multiphysics software, employing a full vectorial finite element method (FEM) to ensure accuracy and reliability in performance evaluation. Simulation results reveal critical parameters: a maximum wavelength sensitivity of 7143 nm/RIU, an amplitude sensitivity of −270 RIU <inline-formula xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$^{-{1}}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> , a sensor resolution of <inline-formula xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$2.9\times 10^{-{5}}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> RIU, and a figure of merit (FOM) of 900. With its streamlined structure, minimal air hole count, and exceptional sensitivity, the proposed PCF-SPR sensor holds significant promise for accurate cancer cell detection within the human body. This innovation has the potential to greatly enhance healthcare diagnostics, offering a more effective and precise means of identifying cancerous cells to improve patient care.