Sensitive optical biosensors for unlabeled targets: a review.
This article reviews the recent progress in optical biosensors that use the label-free detection protocol, in which biomolecules are unlabeled or unmodified, and are detected in their natural forms. In particular, it will focus on the optical biosensors that utilize the refractive index change as the sensing transduction signal. Various optical label-free biosensing platforms will be introduced, including, but not limited to, surface plasmon resonance, interferometers, waveguides, fiber gratings, ring resonators, and photonic crystals. Emphasis will be given to the description of optical structures and their respective sensing mechanisms. Examples of detecting various types of biomolecules will be presented. Wherever possible, the sensing performance of each optical structure will be evaluated and compared in terms of sensitivity and detection limit.
Department of Biological Engineering, University of Missouri, 240D, Bond Life Sciences Center, 1201 E. Rollins Street, Columbia, Missouri 65211, USA. fanxud@missouri.edu
Xudong
X
Fan
Ian M
IM
White
Siyka I
SI
Shopova
Hongying
H
Zhu
Jonathan D
JD
Suter
Yuze
Y
Sun
D015374:Biosensing Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D003460:Crystallization; D006801:Humans; D055095:Optics and Photonics; D010777:Photochemistry; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D020349:Surface Plasmon Resonance