Challenges in specificity and collection efficiency for integrated optical biosensors

Abstract

While many new label-free optical sensing techniques are focusing on increasing the sensitivity or decreasing the limit of detection, the balance between sensitivity, specificity and collection efficiency are critical, particularly for detection in complex media. For example, although high Q optical resonant cavities are inherently sensitive, the collection efficiency of these devices is quite poor, particularly when compared to sensors with larger active sensing areas. By optimizing all three parameters, even further advancements in sensing technologies are possible.