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.
Fan
Xudong
X
Department of Biological Engineering, University of Missouri, 240D, Bond Life Sciences Center, 1201 E. Rollins Street, Columbia, Missouri 65211, USA. fanxud@missouri.edu
White
Ian M
IM
Shopova
Siyka I
SI
Zhu
Hongying
H
Suter
Jonathan D
JD
Sun
Yuze
Y
D015374:Biosensing Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D003460:Crystallization; D006801:Humans; D055095:Optics and Photonics; D010777:Photochemistry; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D020349:Surface Plasmon Resonance