Photonic Crystal Fiber Biosensors for Non-Invasive Disease Detection via Breath Analysis
Keywords:
Photonic crystal fiber, non-invasive diagnosis, optical sensing, biosensors, biomarker detectionAbstract
Non-invasive diagnostic methods are pivotal in modern healthcare, enabling timely and accurate disease detection while minimizing patient risk and enhancing compliance. Photonic crystal fibers (PCFs) microstructured optical fibers with periodic air holes offer unparalleled light-matter interaction capabilities, positioning them as a transformative platform for developing highly sensitive and specific biosensors. This review article extensively overviews PCFs in non-invasive disease diagnosis. It highlights their fundamental principles, various sensing mechanisms, and essential applications in detecting illnesses such as cancer, diabetes, and respiratory conditions through breath analysis. Remarkably, PCF based platforms have shown outstanding performance, achieving sensitivity levels as low as sub-nanogram-per-millilitre in biomarker detection.
This article compares PCF sensors with conventional diagnostic approaches, highlighting their superior precision and versatility. Recent advancements, including innovations in sensor design, material functionalization, and integration with microfluidic and computational systems, are critically evaluated. Furthermore, the review addresses key challenges, such as fabrication complexity, cost-effectiveness, biological interfacing, and clinical translation, offering insights into overcoming these barriers. By synthesizing cutting-edge research, this article is an invaluable resource for researchers, clinicians, and engineers advancing next-generation non-invasive diagnostic tools
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