Integrated Photonic Biosensors: Enabling Next-Generation Lab-on-a-Chip Platforms
Integrated photonic biosensors are revolutionizing lab-on-a-chip technologies by providing highly sensitive, miniaturized, and label-free detection solutions for a wide range of biological and chemical targets. This review explores the foundational principles behind their operation, including the us...
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MDPI AG
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Nanomaterials |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/15/10/731 |
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| author | Muhammad A. Butt B. Imran Akca Xavier Mateos |
| author_facet | Muhammad A. Butt B. Imran Akca Xavier Mateos |
| author_sort | Muhammad A. Butt |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Integrated photonic biosensors are revolutionizing lab-on-a-chip technologies by providing highly sensitive, miniaturized, and label-free detection solutions for a wide range of biological and chemical targets. This review explores the foundational principles behind their operation, including the use of resonant photonic structures such as microring and whispering gallery mode resonators, as well as interferometric and photonic crystal-based designs. Special focus is given to the design strategies that optimize light–matter interaction, enhance sensitivity, and enable multiplexed detection. We detail state-of-the-art fabrication approaches compatible with complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor processes, including the use of silicon, silicon nitride, and hybrid material platforms, which facilitate scalable production and seamless integration with microfluidic systems. Recent advancements are highlighted, including the implementation of optofluidic photonic crystal cavities, cascaded microring arrays with subwavelength gratings, and on-chip detector arrays capable of parallel biosensing. These innovations have achieved exceptional performance, with detection limits reaching the parts-per-billion level and real-time operation across various applications such as clinical diagnostics, environmental surveillance, and food quality assessment. Although challenges persist in handling complex biological samples and achieving consistent large-scale fabrication, the emergence of novel materials, advanced nanofabrication methods, and artificial intelligence-driven data analysis is accelerating the development of next-generation photonic biosensing platforms. These technologies are poised to deliver powerful, accessible, and cost-effective diagnostic tools for practical deployment across diverse settings. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-81985be5227c4ae6aa75c42371dedab2 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2079-4991 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nanomaterials |
| spelling | doaj-art-81985be5227c4ae6aa75c42371dedab22025-08-20T03:14:39ZengMDPI AGNanomaterials2079-49912025-05-01151073110.3390/nano15100731Integrated Photonic Biosensors: Enabling Next-Generation Lab-on-a-Chip PlatformsMuhammad A. Butt0B. Imran Akca1Xavier Mateos2Institute of Microelectronics and Optoelectronics, Warsaw University of Technology, Koszykowa 75, 00-662 Warsaw, PolandLaserLab, Department of Physics and Astronomy, VU University, De Boelelaan 1081, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The NetherlandsFisica i Cristal⋅lografia de Materials (FiCMA), Universitat Rovira i Virgili (URV), Marcel⋅li, Domingo 1, 43007 Tarragona, SpainIntegrated photonic biosensors are revolutionizing lab-on-a-chip technologies by providing highly sensitive, miniaturized, and label-free detection solutions for a wide range of biological and chemical targets. This review explores the foundational principles behind their operation, including the use of resonant photonic structures such as microring and whispering gallery mode resonators, as well as interferometric and photonic crystal-based designs. Special focus is given to the design strategies that optimize light–matter interaction, enhance sensitivity, and enable multiplexed detection. We detail state-of-the-art fabrication approaches compatible with complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor processes, including the use of silicon, silicon nitride, and hybrid material platforms, which facilitate scalable production and seamless integration with microfluidic systems. Recent advancements are highlighted, including the implementation of optofluidic photonic crystal cavities, cascaded microring arrays with subwavelength gratings, and on-chip detector arrays capable of parallel biosensing. These innovations have achieved exceptional performance, with detection limits reaching the parts-per-billion level and real-time operation across various applications such as clinical diagnostics, environmental surveillance, and food quality assessment. Although challenges persist in handling complex biological samples and achieving consistent large-scale fabrication, the emergence of novel materials, advanced nanofabrication methods, and artificial intelligence-driven data analysis is accelerating the development of next-generation photonic biosensing platforms. These technologies are poised to deliver powerful, accessible, and cost-effective diagnostic tools for practical deployment across diverse settings.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/15/10/731photonic sensorslab-on-chipintegrated opticsbio-diagnostics |
| spellingShingle | Muhammad A. Butt B. Imran Akca Xavier Mateos Integrated Photonic Biosensors: Enabling Next-Generation Lab-on-a-Chip Platforms Nanomaterials photonic sensors lab-on-chip integrated optics bio-diagnostics |
| title | Integrated Photonic Biosensors: Enabling Next-Generation Lab-on-a-Chip Platforms |
| title_full | Integrated Photonic Biosensors: Enabling Next-Generation Lab-on-a-Chip Platforms |
| title_fullStr | Integrated Photonic Biosensors: Enabling Next-Generation Lab-on-a-Chip Platforms |
| title_full_unstemmed | Integrated Photonic Biosensors: Enabling Next-Generation Lab-on-a-Chip Platforms |
| title_short | Integrated Photonic Biosensors: Enabling Next-Generation Lab-on-a-Chip Platforms |
| title_sort | integrated photonic biosensors enabling next generation lab on a chip platforms |
| topic | photonic sensors lab-on-chip integrated optics bio-diagnostics |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/15/10/731 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT muhammadabutt integratedphotonicbiosensorsenablingnextgenerationlabonachipplatforms AT bimranakca integratedphotonicbiosensorsenablingnextgenerationlabonachipplatforms AT xaviermateos integratedphotonicbiosensorsenablingnextgenerationlabonachipplatforms |