Recent Advances and Future Prospects of Photonic Crystal Fiber-Based Biosensors

Photonic Crystal Fibers (PCFs) have emerged as an exceptionally promising platform for biosensor development, attributable to their unique light-guiding properties, inherent immunity to electromagnetic interference, remarkable design flexibility, and enhanced light-matter interaction capabilities. This comprehensive review synthesizes recent advances in PCF-based biosensors, encompassing innovations in PCF design, fabrication techniques, diverse sensing modalities (including surface plasmon resonance and interferometry), and strategic surface functionalization approaches. We highlight pivotal breakthroughs in the application of these sensors for the detection of exhaled breath gases and a broad spectrum of analytes—ranging from biomolecules such as DNA and proteins to cells and pathogens—which significantly impact fields like medical diagnostics, environmental monitoring, and food safety. Furthermore, this review critically examines the prevailing challenges that impede the widespread adoption of PCF biosensors, notably fabrication complexities, the intricacies of functionalizing micro-scale structures, and system integration hurdles. Finally, we delve into exciting future prospects and emerging directions, including the development of integrated lab-on-a-PCF systems and advancements in multiplexed sensing and point-of-care applications. The objective of this overview is to furnish researchers with a thorough understanding of the current state-of-the-art and to inspire continued innovation within this rapidly evolving domain.

کلیدواژه ها:

Photonic Crystal Fiber (PCF) ، Biosensor ، Optical Sensor