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Q: Fachverband Quantenoptik und Photonik

Q 32: Photonics and Biophotonics II

Q 32.4: Vortrag

Mittwoch, 4. März 2026, 15:15–15:30, P 3

Microscopic lasers as biointegrated sensors — •Marcel Schubert — Humboldt Centre for Nano and Biophotonics, University of Cologne, 50939, Cologne

Microscopic lasers combine the unique advantages of laser light with a small footprint and variable material choice, making them ideal light sources for biointegrated optical sensors. Their intense and narrow-band emission also allows optical barcoding to identify large numbers of biological cells. In addition, changes of the spectral positions of the laser modes are used for sensing various physical, chemical, and biological stimuli.

Here, we present different micro- and nanolaser devices, called laser particles, for use as intracellular and biointegrated sensors. Laser particles have a typical size of 1-15 µm and are fabricated from either organic dyes doped into a chemically inert matrix or from inorganic semiconductors. As an example, the contractile properties of heart cells are characterized in detail on the level of individual cells as well as in in vivo experiments in zebrafish embryos. We demonstrate that the high signal intensity and elastic nature of light scattering enable deep-tissue sensing at unprecedented depth and spatio-temporal resolution. By making the matrix of the microlasers mechanically flexible, biological forces can also be measured with high precision. Finally, we will present our progress in developing alternative nanolaser platforms that allow to implement various laser mode shapes, therefore making the laser particles more adaptable to specific biological sensing applications.

Keywords: Microlaser; Nanolaser; Cardiac biosensing; Photonic crystal; Biological forces