Advanced Optical Imaging Biosensors: Technologies and Biomedical Applications

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 March 2027 | Viewed by 4217

Special Issue Editors

Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Devices and Systems of Ministry of Education and Guangdong Province, College of Optoelectronic Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
Interests: optical super-resolution imaging; fluorescence lifetime imaging system; adaptive optics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
College of Physics and Optoelectronic Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
Interests: fluorescence microscopic imaging/volumetric imaging; fluorescence lifetime imaging

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Guest Editor
College of Physics and Optoelectronic Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
Interests: biophotonics

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In recent years, with the development of optical imaging techniques and probes, noval applications of optical imaging methods in biomedical and other related fields has been promoted, especially the effective combination of new optical imaging techniques and biosensors. Innovations in laser scanning confocal imaging, two-photon imaging, fluorescence lifetime imaging, super-resolution imaging, light sheet microscopy and multimodal imaging have explored human understanding of live cells and organisms, promoting rapid developments of biomedicine

This special issue aims to highlight novel biosensing strategies and imaging modalities, which may expand the boundaries of resolution, sensitivity, and spatiotemporal precision in biomedical research. The focus will be on imaging-based biosensors that provide unique insights into clinical diagnostics, drug screening, disease surveillance, and basic biological fields.

Dr. Wei Yan
Dr. Yong Guo
Dr. Xiao Peng
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • optical microcavity biosensors
  • optical microring biosensors
  • photonic crystal biosensors
  • plasmonic biosensors
  • metasurface sensors
  • integrated photonic biosensors
  • optofluidic biochips
  • diagnosis
  • point-of-care
  • healthcare

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

13 pages, 2457 KB  
Article
FLIM Reveals Red Light-Induced Changes in Murine Hair Follicles
by Shanjie Xu, Aoshan Wang, Yuxuan Lin, Qichang Lai, Guangchao Xu, Chunhua Peng, Xiao Peng, Wei Yan and Junle Qu
Biosensors 2026, 16(5), 232; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios16050232 - 22 Apr 2026
Viewed by 654
Abstract
Hair loss, particularly androgenetic alopecia (AGA) and alopecia areata (AA), is a prevalent condition with widespread psychosocial impact. Recently, low-level laser therapy (LLLT) has emerged as a promising non-invasive therapeutic alternative due to its bioregulatory effects and favorable safety profile compared to conventional [...] Read more.
Hair loss, particularly androgenetic alopecia (AGA) and alopecia areata (AA), is a prevalent condition with widespread psychosocial impact. Recently, low-level laser therapy (LLLT) has emerged as a promising non-invasive therapeutic alternative due to its bioregulatory effects and favorable safety profile compared to conventional pharmacological treatments. In this study, we employed fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) to investigate the effects of red-light irradiation on hair follicle dynamics and the cutaneous microenvironment in a C57BL/6 mouse model. A hair regeneration model was established to evaluate the efficacy of 650 nm red-light irradiation (bandwidth ± 20 nm). Then, the skin tissue was stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and followed by FLIM analysis to provide a multidimensional assessment of tissue morphology and metabolic status. Results showed that red-light irradiation significantly increased hair follicle numbers and enhanced adenosine triphosphate (ATP) levels in the skin tissue. FLIM analysis further revealed prolonged fluorescence lifetime values across different epidermal and dermal layers in the irradiated group, indicating significant alterations in the skin metabolic microenvironment. Furthermore, phasor plot analysis enabled precise differentiation between hair follicles and their surrounding skin structures, highlighting FLIM’s high sensitivity and accuracy in evaluating hair growth. In conclusion, this study has provided novel imaging-based insights into the mechanisms of LLLT-induced hair regeneration, highlighting the potential of FLIM as a powerful tool for characterizing the cutaneous microenvironment and quantitatively evaluating phototherapeutic efficacy in future translational applications. Full article
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10 pages, 1546 KB  
Article
Evaluation of Probe Positioning Effects on Optical Parameters in Neonatal Forehead Time-Resolved Spectroscopy Measurements
by Yoko Tadatomo, Kota Inoue, Tomohito Nakayama, Aya Morimoto, Hiroaki Suzuki, Toru Kuboi, Kosuke Koyano, Shinji Nakamura and Takashi Kusaka
Biosensors 2026, 16(2), 69; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios16020069 - 23 Jan 2026
Viewed by 547
Abstract
Time-resolved spectroscopy (TRS) is a promising tool for noninvasive cerebral monitoring in neonates. However, the optimal forehead site for probe placement remains unclear. In this study, we evaluated the effect of probe positioning on TRS-derived optical parameters in neonates. TRS measurements were obtained [...] Read more.
Time-resolved spectroscopy (TRS) is a promising tool for noninvasive cerebral monitoring in neonates. However, the optimal forehead site for probe placement remains unclear. In this study, we evaluated the effect of probe positioning on TRS-derived optical parameters in neonates. TRS measurements were obtained from the midline and right lateral forehead of 30 neonates (≥36 weeks’ corrected gestational age). We compared various parameters between the two probe positions, including optical intensity, attenuation, mean optical path length, scattering coefficient, total hemoglobin (tHb), cerebral oxygen saturation (ScO2) and cerebral blood volume (CBV). No significant differences were observed in tHb, ScO2 and CBV between the midline and lateral sites. However, the lateral site showed a significantly lower scattering coefficient and shorter mean path length. Light intensity was increased and attenuation was reduced at the lateral site. Thus, while tHb, ScO2 and CBV values were consistent between sites, the midline provided more stable scattering and optical path data. These findings suggest that the midline forehead may be a more suitable site for TRS-based neonatal cerebral monitoring. Full article
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28 pages, 9838 KB  
Article
Evaluating the Performance of Hyperspectral Imaging Endoscopes: Mitigating Parameters Affecting Spectral Accuracy
by Siavash Mazdeyasna, Mohammed Shahriar Arefin, Andrew Fales, Silas J. Leavesley, T. Joshua Pfefer and Quanzeng Wang
Biosensors 2025, 15(11), 738; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios15110738 - 4 Nov 2025
Viewed by 1429
Abstract
Hyperspectral imaging (HSI) is increasingly used in studies for medical applications as it provides both structural and functional information of biological tissue, enhancing diagnostic accuracy and clinical decision-making. Recently, HSI cameras (HSICs) have been integrated with medical endoscopes (HSIEs), capturing hypercube data beyond [...] Read more.
Hyperspectral imaging (HSI) is increasingly used in studies for medical applications as it provides both structural and functional information of biological tissue, enhancing diagnostic accuracy and clinical decision-making. Recently, HSI cameras (HSICs) have been integrated with medical endoscopes (HSIEs), capturing hypercube data beyond conventional white light imaging endoscopes. However, there are currently no cleared or approved HSIEs by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). HSI accuracy depends on technologies and experimental parameters, which must be assessed for reliability. Importantly, the reflectance spectrum of a target can vary across different cameras and under different environmental or operational conditions. Thus, before reliable clinical translation can be achieved, a fundamental question must be addressed: can the same target yield consistent spectral measurements across different HSI systems and under varying acquisition conditions? This study investigates the impact of eight parameters—ambient light, exposure time, camera warm-up time, spatial and temporal averaging, camera focus, working distance, illumination angle, and target angle—on spectral measurements using two HSI techniques: interferometer-based spectral scanning and snapshot. Controlled experiments were conducted to evaluate how each parameter affects spectral accuracy and whether normalization can mitigate these effects. Our findings reveal that several parameters significantly influence spectral measurements, with some having a more pronounced impact. While normalization reduced variations for most parameters, it was less effective at mitigating errors caused by ambient light and camera warm-up time. Additionally, normalization did not eliminate spectral noise resulting from low exposure time, small region of interest, or a spectrally non-uniform light source. From these results, we propose practical considerations for optimizing HSI system performance. Implementing these measures can minimize variations in reflectance spectra of identical targets captured by different cameras and under diverse conditions, thereby supporting the reliable translation of HSI techniques to clinical applications. Full article
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17 pages, 4348 KB  
Article
Visible-Light Hyperspectral Reconstruction and PCA-Based Feature Extraction for Malignant Pleural Effusion Cytology
by Chun-Liang Lai, Kun-Hua Lee, Hong-Thai Nguyen, Arvind Mukundan, Riya Karmakar, Tsung-Hsien Chen, Wen-Shou Lin and Hsiang-Chen Wang
Biosensors 2025, 15(11), 714; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios15110714 - 28 Oct 2025
Viewed by 1164
Abstract
Malignant pleural effusion, commonly referred to as MPE, is a prevalent complication associated with individuals diagnosed with neoplastic disorders. The data acquired by pleural fluid cytology is beneficial for diagnostic objectives. Consequently, the initial step in the diagnostic procedure for lung cancer is [...] Read more.
Malignant pleural effusion, commonly referred to as MPE, is a prevalent complication associated with individuals diagnosed with neoplastic disorders. The data acquired by pleural fluid cytology is beneficial for diagnostic objectives. Consequently, the initial step in the diagnostic procedure for lung cancer is the analysis of pleural effusion fluid. This research aims to provide a cutting-edge model for analyzing PE cytology images. This model utilizes a computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) system that integrates hyperspectral imaging (HSI) technology for the classification of spectral variations. Giemsa, which is one of the most popular microscopic stains, is employed to stain the samples, after which a sensitive CCD mounted on a microscope captures the images. Subsequently, the HSI model is tasked with obtaining the image spectra. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) constitutes the concluding phase in the classification procedure of various cell types. We expect that the suggested technique will enable medical professionals to stage lung cancer more rapidly. In the future, we aspire to develop an extensive data system that utilizes deep learning techniques to facilitate the automatic classification of cells, thereby ensuring the most precise diagnosis. Furthermore, enhancing accuracy and minimizing data dimensions are important priorities to accelerate diagnostics, conserve resources, and reduce computing time. Full article
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