Advancements in Fiber and Prism-Based Surface Plasmon Resonance Sensors: Comparative Analysis and Applications in Disease Detection and Biosensing

The surface plasmon resonance (SPR) technique has proven indispensable as an optical sensing method owing to its extraordinary sensitivity to changes in refractive index, making it crucial for diagnosis of disease diagnostics, environmental assessment, and pharmaceutical development. This review compares the two most common configurations of SPR sensors: fiber-based and prism-based SPR sensors. This comprehensive review covers various sensor configurations, geometric shapes, and fiber types, advantages of each in terms of integration, sensitivity, and performance enhancement. Significant applications include diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease, cardiovascular conditions, cancer, and diabetes. Fiber SPR sensors offer real-time monitoring, mobility, and field flexibility; on the other hand, prism-based SPR sensors provide a higher sensitivity and are more relevant for laboratory applications that demand accuracy. The integration of advanced nanomaterials like graphene and MXenes has further improved both systems’ sensitivity and stability. Recent advances in miniaturization and multiplexing enabled them to be adapted for real-time biomarker detection of various medical diagnostics based on environmental safety, providing the tools of modern biosensing technology.