Optofluidics uses light (‘opto,’ or optics) to analyze and identify specific biomarkers in a fluid
(‘fluidics’) medium. It works through the principles of spectrometry – shining a specific type of
light at a sample and analyzing the wavelength of the light that results from the interaction.
Different chemicals, substances, and molecules will produce different wavelengths of light in
response to a specific light source.
Biotech companies use this idea to create ‘lab-on-a-chip’ devices – with specialized computer
chips. These devices can take in a tiny amount of fluid and analyze the biological materials that
are present, and identify specific target substances or biomarkers, such as proteins, antigens,
and antibodies.