The potential of optofluidic biolasers

Optofluidic biolasers are emerging as a highly sensitive way to measure changes in biological molecules. Biolasers, which incorporate biological material into the gain medium and contain an optical cavity in a fluidic environment, take advantage of the amplification that occurs during laser generation to quantify tiny changes in biological processes in the gain medium. This Perspective describes the principle of the optofluidic biolaser, reviews recent progress and provides outlooks on potential applications and directions for developing this enabling technology. Optofluidic biolasers are emerging as a highly sensitive way to measure changes in biological molecules. Biolasers, which incorporate biological material into the gain medium and contain an optical cavity in a fluidic environment, can use the amplification that occurs during laser generation to quantify tiny changes in biological processes in the gain medium. We describe the principle of the optofluidic biolaser, review recent progress and provide our outlooks on potential applications and directions for developing this technology.