Photonic Biosensors: Detection, Analysis and Medical Diagnostics

A special issue of Biosensors (ISSN 2079-6374). This special issue belongs to the section "Optical and Photonic Biosensors".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 October 2021) | Viewed by 27041

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Special Issue Editor

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Nanotechnologies are essential in the future of healthcare technologies for their ability to promptly diagnose a disease, and for monitoring its progression and aggressiveness, as well as to define new treatments with an accuracy and precision never reached with conventional tools and techniques yet. The achievements and progress of nanotechnologies in personalised nanomedicine with the ability of early detection now make it possible to focus on each single patient, in order to define the most powerful and specialised diagnosis and treatment.

The future of healthcare is driven by a demand of a perfect synergy between these new technologies and healthcare workers in order to facilitate their spread in daily patient management in real clinical environments.

Photonic biosensors have been demonstrated to provide high sensitivity and accuracy and real-time operation combined with high integrability, simplicity and cost-efficiency. Furthermore, their ability to detect multiple biomarkers in a single test improves the precision of diagnosis and analysis and enables the monitoring and screening tests of several diseases.

These advantages make photonic biosensors one of the best candidates to develop lab-on-a-chip systems to integrate in point-of-care (POC) diagnostic devices with the integration of microfluidics for the management of biomarkers in body fluids to conduct tests in clinical matrices (e.g., blood, saliva, urine), as well as electrical readouts for data transfer and processing.

This Special Issue will focus on the latest advances in photonic devices for biosensing applications to improve the precision of medical tests aiming at developing the next generation of point-of-care instruments to translate in clinical applications based on a photonic detection scheme. Both review articles and novel research papers are solicited, covering the following areas:

  • Novel photonic devices and platforms able to improve the sensitivity, accuracy and precision of biomedical analysis and diagnostics;
  • Use of photonic biosensors to investigate novel biological and medical studies hitherto not possible to investigate for the limitation of current techniques, i.e., in cancer applications, neurodegenerative and cardiovascular disease, bacterial and viral infections, etc;
  • New strategies to integrate photonic devices in portable instruments to facilitate their use by non-expert users with cost-efficient solutions;
  • The combination of photonic biosensors with microfluidics and different technologies (i.e., electrical, acoustics, magnetic) to enable multiparameter and multiplexed sensing.
Dr. Donato Conteduca
Guest Editor

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Biosensors is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Photonic biosensors
  • Biomedical photonics
  • Lab-on-a-chip systems
  • Point-of-care photonic devices
  • Integrated biosensors
  • Personalised medicine

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Editorial

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3 pages, 162 KiB  
Editorial
Photonic Biosensors: Detection, Analysis and Medical Diagnostics
by Donato Conteduca
Biosensors 2022, 12(4), 238; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/bios12040238 - 13 Apr 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1677
Abstract
The necessity of personalised diagnoses and ad hoc treatments for individual patients is driving the outbreak of personalised nanomedicine in research and in clinical studies in the healthcare field [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Photonic Biosensors: Detection, Analysis and Medical Diagnostics)

Research

Jump to: Editorial

14 pages, 1563 KiB  
Article
Novel Micro-Nano Optoelectronic Biosensor for Label-Free Real-Time Biofilm Monitoring
by Giuseppe Brunetti, Donato Conteduca, Mario Nicola Armenise and Caterina Ciminelli
Biosensors 2021, 11(10), 361; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/bios11100361 - 29 Sep 2021
Cited by 22 | Viewed by 3600
Abstract
According to the World Health Organization forecasts, AntiMicrobial Resistance (AMR) is expected to become one of the leading causes of death worldwide in the following decades. The rising danger of AMR is caused by the overuse of antibiotics, which are becoming [...] Read more.
According to the World Health Organization forecasts, AntiMicrobial Resistance (AMR) is expected to become one of the leading causes of death worldwide in the following decades. The rising danger of AMR is caused by the overuse of antibiotics, which are becoming ineffective against many pathogens, particularly in the presence of bacterial biofilms. In this context, non-destructive label-free techniques for the real-time study of the biofilm generation and maturation, together with the analysis of the efficiency of antibiotics, are in high demand. Here, we propose the design of a novel optoelectronic device based on a dual array of interdigitated micro- and nanoelectrodes in parallel, aiming at monitoring the bacterial biofilm evolution by using optical and electrical measurements. The optical response given by the nanostructure, based on the Guided Mode Resonance effect with a Q-factor of about 400 and normalized resonance amplitude of about 0.8, allows high spatial resolution for the analysis of the interaction between planktonic bacteria distributed in small colonies and their role in the biofilm generation, calculating a resonance wavelength shift variation of 0.9 nm in the presence of bacteria on the surface, while the electrical response with both micro- and nanoelectrodes is necessary for the study of the metabolic state of the bacteria to reveal the efficacy of antibiotics for the destruction of the biofilm, measuring a current change of 330 nA when a 15 µm thick biofilm is destroyed with respect to the absence of biofilm. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Photonic Biosensors: Detection, Analysis and Medical Diagnostics)
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13 pages, 2640 KiB  
Article
Using CNN and HHT to Predict Blood Pressure Level Based on Photoplethysmography and Its Derivatives
by Xiaoxiao Sun, Liang Zhou, Shendong Chang and Zhaohui Liu
Biosensors 2021, 11(4), 120; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/bios11040120 - 13 Apr 2021
Cited by 27 | Viewed by 4189
Abstract
According to the WTO, there were 1.13 billion hypertension patients worldwide in 2015. The WTO encouraged people to check the blood pressure regularly because a large amount of patients do not have any symptoms. However, traditional cuff measurement results are not enough to [...] Read more.
According to the WTO, there were 1.13 billion hypertension patients worldwide in 2015. The WTO encouraged people to check the blood pressure regularly because a large amount of patients do not have any symptoms. However, traditional cuff measurement results are not enough to represent the patient′s blood pressure status over a period of time. Therefore, there is an urgent need for portable, easy to operate, continuous measurement, and low-cost blood pressure measuring devices. In this paper, we adopted the convolutional neural network (CNN), based on the Hilbert–Huang Transform (HHT) method, to predict blood pressure (BP) risk level using photoplethysmography (PPG). Considering that the PPG′s first and second derivative signals are related to atherosclerosis and vascular elasticity, we created a dataset called PPG+; the images of PPG+ carry information on PPG and its derivatives. We built three classification experiments by collecting 582 data records (the length of each record is 10 s) from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care (MIMIC) database: NT (normotension) vs. HT (hypertension), NT vs. PHT (prehypertension), and (NT + PHT) vs. HT; the F1 scores of the PPG + experiments using AlexNet were 98.90%, 85.80%, and 93.54%, respectively. We found that, first, the dataset established by the HHT method performed well in the BP grade prediction experiment. Second, because the Hilbert spectra of the PPG are simple and periodic, AlexNet, which has only 8 layers, got better results. More layers instead increased the cost and difficulty of training. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Photonic Biosensors: Detection, Analysis and Medical Diagnostics)
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18 pages, 1925 KiB  
Article
Noninvasive Monitoring of Glucose Using Near-Infrared Reflection Spectroscopy of Skin—Constraints and Effective Novel Strategy in Multivariate Calibration
by H. Michael Heise, Sven Delbeck and Ralf Marbach
Biosensors 2021, 11(3), 64; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/bios11030064 - 27 Feb 2021
Cited by 16 | Viewed by 5480
Abstract
For many years, successful noninvasive blood glucose monitoring assays have been announced, among which near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy of skin is a promising analytical method. Owing to the tiny absorption bands of the glucose buried among a dominating variable spectral background, multivariate calibration is [...] Read more.
For many years, successful noninvasive blood glucose monitoring assays have been announced, among which near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy of skin is a promising analytical method. Owing to the tiny absorption bands of the glucose buried among a dominating variable spectral background, multivariate calibration is required to achieve applicability for blood glucose self-monitoring. The most useful spectral range with important analyte fingerprint signatures is the NIR spectral interval containing combination and overtone vibration band regions. A strategy called science-based calibration (SBC) has been developed that relies on a priori information of the glucose signal (“response spectrum”) and the spectral noise, i.e., estimates of the variance of a sample population with negligible glucose dynamics. For the SBC method using transcutaneous reflection skin spectra, the response spectrum requires scaling due to the wavelength-dependent photon penetration depth, as obtained by Monte Carlo simulations of photon migration based on estimates of optical tissue constants. Results for tissue glucose concentrations are presented using lip NIR-spectra of a type-1 diabetic subject recorded under modified oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) conditions. The results from the SBC method are extremely promising, as statistical calibrations show limitations under the conditions of ill-posed equation systems as experienced for tissue measurements. The temporal profile differences between the glucose concentration in blood and skin tissue were discussed in detail but needed to be further evaluated. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Photonic Biosensors: Detection, Analysis and Medical Diagnostics)
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13 pages, 3782 KiB  
Article
Demonstration of a Label-Free and Low-Cost Optical Cavity-Based Biosensor Using Streptavidin and C-Reactive Protein
by Donggee Rho and Seunghyun Kim
Biosensors 2021, 11(1), 4; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/bios11010004 - 24 Dec 2020
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2910
Abstract
An optical cavity-based biosensor (OCB) has been developed for point-of-care (POC) applications. This label-free biosensor employs low-cost components and simple fabrication processes to lower the overall cost while achieving high sensitivity using a differential detection method. To experimentally demonstrate its limit of detection [...] Read more.
An optical cavity-based biosensor (OCB) has been developed for point-of-care (POC) applications. This label-free biosensor employs low-cost components and simple fabrication processes to lower the overall cost while achieving high sensitivity using a differential detection method. To experimentally demonstrate its limit of detection (LOD), we conducted biosensing experiments with streptavidin and C-reactive protein (CRP). The optical cavity structure was optimized further for better sensitivity and easier fluid control. We utilized the polymer swelling property to fine-tune the optical cavity width, which significantly improved the success rate to produce measurable samples. Four different concentrations of streptavidin were tested in triplicate, and the LOD of the OCB was determined to be 1.35 nM. The OCB also successfully detected three different concentrations of human CRP using biotinylated CRP antibody. The LOD for CRP detection was 377 pM. All measurements were done using a small sample volume of 15 µL within 30 min. By reducing the sensing area, improving the functionalization and passivation processes, and increasing the sample volume, the LOD of the OCB are estimated to be reduced further to the femto-molar range. Overall, the demonstrated capability of the OCB in the present work shows great potential to be used as a promising POC biosensor. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Photonic Biosensors: Detection, Analysis and Medical Diagnostics)
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10 pages, 3290 KiB  
Article
Wearable Laser Doppler Flowmetry Sensor: A Feasibility Study with Smoker and Non-Smoker Volunteers
by Mou Saha, Viktor Dremin, Ilya Rafailov, Andrey Dunaev, Sergei Sokolovski and Edik Rafailov
Biosensors 2020, 10(12), 201; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/bios10120201 - 07 Dec 2020
Cited by 17 | Viewed by 4060
Abstract
Novel, non-invasive wearable laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF) devices measure real-time blood circulation of the left middle fingertip and the topside of the wrist of the left hand. The LDF signals are simultaneously recorded for fingertip and wrist. The amplitude of blood flow signals [...] Read more.
Novel, non-invasive wearable laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF) devices measure real-time blood circulation of the left middle fingertip and the topside of the wrist of the left hand. The LDF signals are simultaneously recorded for fingertip and wrist. The amplitude of blood flow signals and wavelet analysis of the signal are used for the analysis of blood perfusion parameters. The aim of this pilot study is to validate the accuracy of blood circulation measurements recorded by one such non-invasive wearable LDF device for healthy young non-smokers and smokers. This study reveals a higher level of blood perfusion in the non-smoker group compared to the smoker group and vice-versa for the variation of pulse frequency. This result can be useful to assess the sensitivity of the wearable LDF sensor in determining the effect of nicotine for smokers as compared to non-smokers and also the blood microcirculation in smokers with different pathologies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Photonic Biosensors: Detection, Analysis and Medical Diagnostics)
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8 pages, 8987 KiB  
Communication
Microfluidic Packaging Integration with Electronic-Photonic Biosensors Using 3D Printed Transfer Molding
by Christos Adamopoulos, Asmaysinh Gharia, Ali Niknejad, Vladimir Stojanović and Mekhail Anwar
Biosensors 2020, 10(11), 177; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/bios10110177 - 14 Nov 2020
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3880
Abstract
Multiplexed sensing in integrated silicon electronic-photonic platforms requires microfluidics with both high density micro-scale channels and meso-scale features to accommodate for optical, electrical, and fluidic coupling in small, millimeter-scale areas. Three-dimensional (3D) printed transfer molding offers a facile and rapid method to create [...] Read more.
Multiplexed sensing in integrated silicon electronic-photonic platforms requires microfluidics with both high density micro-scale channels and meso-scale features to accommodate for optical, electrical, and fluidic coupling in small, millimeter-scale areas. Three-dimensional (3D) printed transfer molding offers a facile and rapid method to create both micro and meso-scale features in complex multilayer microfluidics in order to integrate with monolithic electronic-photonic system-on-chips with multiplexed rows of 5 μm radius micro-ring resonators (MRRs), allowing for simultaneous optical, electrical, and microfluidic coupling on chip. Here, we demonstrate this microfluidic packaging strategy on an integrated silicon photonic biosensor, setting the basis for highly multiplexed molecular sensing on-chip. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Photonic Biosensors: Detection, Analysis and Medical Diagnostics)
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