Project Grant 2500189

This Project Grant awarded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) under CFDA 47.041 (Engineering) will develop a new technology to separate and detect specific molecules, particles, and biomarkers in solution using optical forces. The $295,992 award to Case Western Reserve University will fund the design and fabrication of a photonic metasurface integrated with a microfluidic device to generate optical forces capable of separating and sensing molecules, particles, and chiral enantiomers. Key objectives include developing a computational framework for predicting and optimizing optical forces and experimentally validating the metasurface-integrated microfluidic platform. This approach applies machine learning for inverse design and utilizes T-matrix methods for simulation. The anticipated outcomes include a scalable, efficient optomechanical device that offers higher throughput and specificity for molecular separation, advancing biophotonic devices for applications such as glioma biomarker sensing and environmental purification of heavy metals. The research also explores the fundamental properties of chiral-dependent optical forces, expanding knowledge in photonics and optomechanics.