The Next-Generation Life Marker Chip: A Miniaturized Photonic Biosensor for Planetary Exploration and Astrobiology

The search for biosignatures on extraterrestrial bodies requires advanced analytical capabilities within the constraints of miniaturized space payloads. We present the Life Marker Chip (LMC_OOL), a photonic integrated circuit biosensor designed for in-situ detection of biomolecules on future planetary exploration missions.

LMC_OOL is based on miniaturized photonic waveguide technology, integrating an asymmetric Mach-Zehnder Interferometer (aMZI) sensor element smaller than 0.1 mm² on a chip. Despite its minute size, the aMZI achieves refractive index sensitivity of 10⁻⁹ refractive index units, enabling label-free detection of biomolecules through surface receptor binding. By functionalizing the sensor surface with target-specific receptors such as antibodies, LMC_OOL provides highly selective and sensitive detection of virtually any soluble molecule with an available receptor. Performance has been demonstrated for molecules ranging from amino acids and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons to nucleic acids with detection limits down to the parts-per-trillion domain.

LMC_OOL's primary mission application is ESA's L4 flagship mission to detect biomarkers on Enceladus' surface. However, the instrument's compact footprint, low power requirements, and versatility make it ideally suited for deployment on multiple platform architectures. I will discuss opportunities for integration into CubeSats for near-Earth orbital astrobiology studies, lander payloads for planetary surface exploration, and potential applications in life sciences and medical diagnostics on crewed missions.

To advance LMC_OOL toward spaceflight readiness, we are conducting various activities, such as radiation tolerance testing, novel Molecularly Imprinted Polymer receptor development, and optimizing the technology for operation in harsh extraterrestrial environments. This work demonstrates how miniature photonic biosensors can enable transformative capabilities for Solar System exploration across multiple mission architectures and scientific objectives.