The Integrated Photonic Devices Group, led by Professor Senthil Murugan Ganapathy, was established in early 1990 by Professor James Wilkinson to meet the demand for optical device functions of increasing complexity and parallelism. Planar photonic devices are exploited in applications as diverse as telecommunications, tuneable and short-pulse miniature laser light sources, diagnostics in medicine, the environment and food processing, and early-warning sensors for biological agents. We exploit surface science, waveguide engineering, laser physics and microstructure technology to realise robust mass-producible integrated optical circuits, to further the monolithic integration of diverse devices, and to develop novel materials processing for optoelectronic devices.
PhD Projects:
Supervisory team: Prof. Senthil Murugan Ganapathy and Dr. Ahilanandan Dushianthan
Acute hypoxic respiratory failure is a significant problem in the intensive care unit setting. Supplemental oxygen is essential for treatment of acute hypoxic respiratory failure and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), where impaired gas exchange results in severe hypoxaemia. While oxygen is a ubiquitous adjunct to mechanical ventilation, it is not without harm, and recent studies suggest adverse outcomes with overzealous use of oxygen.
This project will explore an “omics” approach to oxygen-induced alveolar damage with a comprehensive quantification of alveolar and serological markers of redox signalling, oxidative stress, lung surfactant lipidomic and proteomics candidates that govern the heterogeneous nature and endotypes of hypoxic/hyperoxic organ injury. Better understanding of metabolic signatures may enable further improvements in diagnosis and management of hypoxia/hyperoxia mediated organ damage. However, laboratory analysis often takes too long to inform critical clinical decisions. Real-time optical spectroscopic measurements in combination with machine learning have the potential to enable rapid bedside analysis of multi-model metabolomic data within few minutes without sample preparation and basic prototypes are already under development for neonatal Respiratory Distress Syndrome (nRDS) application. The ultimate vision of this project is to develop benchtop analytical platforms exploiting disposable spectroscopic chips (developed in our cleanrooms) that can be deployed to guide individualised therapy in critically ill patients in an intensive care unit (ICU) setting. This multidisciplinary project will be undertaken collaboratively between Optoelectronics Research Centre and Biomedical Research Centre at the University of Southampton/University Hospital Southampton.
Supervisor: Prof. Senthil Murugan Ganapathy
Both Mid-IR and Raman molecular fingerprint spectroscopies have been shown to be powerful biodiagnostic tools for specific biomarkers. Enhancing the sensitivity and improving the detection limit of current Mid-IR and Raman spectroscopic platforms are most important to exploit them for early diagnosis of disease biomarkers in point of care setting. Recently two-dimensional (2D) materials such as graphene and transition metal di-chalcogenides (TMDC) have shown huge potentials for spectroscopic signal enhancement. In this project, we will develop highly sensitive ATR and Raman chips empowered with 2D material layer for super enhanced IR and Raman spectroscopies. We will develop bulk silicon and silicon on insulator (SOI) platforms coated with TMDCs in both ATR and waveguide configurations for enhanced Mid-IR and Raman spectroscopies. The diagnostic potential of these platforms will be evaluated using the detection of breast/ovarian cancer and acute respiratory distress syndrome biomarkers in collaboration with The Institute of Cancer Research, London and University Hospital Southampton.