EPIC-BIO

Exceptional-point-enhanced whispering gallery mode microcavity optical biosensor for single-molecule detection of cancer biomarkers (EPIC-BIO) is a two-year international exchanges project funded by the Royal Society.

Cancer is a serious health issue that affects millions of people worldwide. Early detection is key to successful treatment and improving survival rates. This project aims to develop a highly sensitive tool to detect cancer biomarkers at extremely low levels, even at the single-molecule level. Detecting these biomarkers early can significantly enhance the chances of successful treatment.

This project explores how exceptional-point (EP) physics can be harnessed in whispering gallery mode (WGM) optical microcavities to dramatically enhance biosensing sensitivity, enabling label-free, real-time single-molecule detection of clinically relevant cancer biomarkers.

The work is carried out in collaboration with Prof. Hao Zhang at Nankai University, bringing together complementary expertise in photonic microcavity engineering, precision optical interrogation, and biomedical sensing. This international partnership aims to push the limits of optical biosensors and accelerate their impact on early cancer diagnostics.

Related Papers:

• T. Chen, H. Zhang, C. Wang, M. Yang, Q. Wang, J. Cai, W. Lin, S. Duan and B. Liu, “Theoretical optimization of microdisk sensors based on modified potential for ultralow-limit detection of COVID-19 biomarker,” IEEE Sensors Journal, 25(21), 39893-39900 (2025).
• T. Chen, H. Zhang, C. Wang, M. Yang, Q. Wang, X. Shan, J. Cai, W. Lin, S. Duan and B. Liu, “High-accuracy analytic characterization of whispering gallery modes based on modified quantum potential,” Optics and Laser Technology, 189, 113143 (2025).