Revolutionizing the field of chiral chemistry by introducing a new strategy for separating enantiomers
– Chiral separation of molecules enabled by enantioselective optical forces in integrated
nanophotonic circuits –
CHIRALFORCE`S VISION
CHIRALSFORCE`S OVERVIEW
Separating enantiomers is crucial to produce bio-active molecules, e.g..in early-phase drug discovery.
Separating enantiomers is crucial to produce bio-active molecules, e.g., in early-phase drug discovery.
CHIRALFORCE aims at a radically new strategy to separate enantiometers on chip, using chiral optical forces at silicon-based integrated waveguides.
The present solution of chiral chromatography for this multi-billion market is slow and cumbersome since it requires tailored chemistry for each chiral compound, and relies on large and expensive separation columns.
Instead, CHIRALFORCE envisions cm-length optical circuits integrated with microfluidics for extremely quick, tuneable, and cheap enantiomeric separation. The underlying mechanism relies on optical forces that are enantioselective, due to interaction of spin-properties of the optical field with the chiral optical polarizability of matter.
These chiral optical forces can be tailored well beyond the possibilities of free-space chiral light through nanophotonic design of strongly confined modes. Flowing analyte in microfluidic channels along cm-length laser-driven will then result in enantio-separation.
MAIN OBJECTIVES
The approach to reach our main objectives relies on three main consortium strengths.
1
Design and synthesize chiral molecules and nanoparticles that allow us to explore chiral forces regardless of how the chiral polarizability of matter is tuned by the size, shape, and in-built spectroscopic resonances,
2
Establish the general framework of chiral optical forces on nanoparticles and molecules in liquid environments, leveraging our strength in nanophotonic theory, design, and experiment, on chiral/spin-properties of electromagnetic fields.
3
Leverage our experience in nanotechnology to fabricate silicon-based photonic integrated circuits integrated with microfluidics to demonstrate enantiomer separation.