ABSTRACT
In the past 20 years, photonic techniques have had a dramatic effect on many different fields of research
related to biomedical diagnostics and therapy [1]. Following the genomic research advances of the post-
sequencing era, there has been an exploding interest in the development and applications of biochip
technologies. Information on genomic sequence can be used experimentally with high-density DNA
microarrays that allow complex mixtures of RNA and DNA to be interrogated in a parallel and
quantitative fashion. DNA microarrays can be used for many different purposes, especially to measure
levels of gene expression (messenger RNA abundance) for tens of thousands of genes simultaneously
[2-6]. On the other hand, portable, self-contained biochips with integrated detection microchip systems
have great potential for use by the physician at the point of care [7-13].
