Surface Plasmon Resonance-Based Biosensors and Their Applications

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 November 2026 | Viewed by 9188

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
Interests: surface plasmon resonance; biosensing; surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS); disease diagnostics; exosomes

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Guest Editor Assistant
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
Interests: nanomaterials and nanofabrications; plasmonic devices; DOE and optimization; surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS); metal-enhanced fluorescence; surface acoustic waves

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Guest Editor Assistant
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
Interests: plasmonics; resistance switches; light-matter interactions; metamaterials

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) refers to the quasi-particles of the collective oscillation of electrons and photons (electromagnetic waves) at metal–dielectric interfaces. SPR produces intense localized electromagnetic fields, leading to superior detection sensitivity. Various SPR-based methods have been shown to be information-rich tools for analyzing biological materials, with some offering exceedingly high sensitivity at the single-molecule level, and others enabling label-free, non-destructive, and in situ observation of various biological processes. SPR has also been shown to immobilize suspended entities such as biomolecules, akin in its underlying physics to the well-known optical tweezers.

Significant advances have been made over the past several decades in biomedical diagnostics, drug discovery, food safety, environmental monitoring, and beyond. Of special interest is subjects such as sensitivity beyond current detection limits to include subtleties such as secondary and tertiary conformational differences in proteins, the challenge of single-molecule/single-vesicle detection with sufficiently high throughput to ensure statistical significance, and the fundamental trade-offs between the ability to observe biological processes in situ at the single-molecule level (such as protein–protein interactions) and the unavoidable disturbance to the object under observation (such as denaturing proteins).

This Special Issue aims to provide a communication platform for researchers and technologists in this promising sub-field of research straddling biology, physics, and engineering, and to serve as a repository of information on the pertinent aspects of engineering and technology development, as well as cases of successful (or not so successful) applications. Ultimately, we hope to foster interdisciplinary collaboration and drive forward the continued growth of this exciting and bourgeoning field.

Prof. Dr. Ya-Hong Xie
Guest Editor

Dr. Jun Liu
Dr. Siddharth Srivastava
Guest Editor Assistants

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Keywords

  • surface plasmon resonance
  • nano-structures
  • biosensing
  • drug discovery
  • food safety
  • environmental monitoring
  • biomarker discovery
  • diagnostic
  • proteomics
  • single-molecule detection
  • machine learning
  • protein folding
  • label-free
  • plasmonic tweezers
  • sensitivity
  • specificity

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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17 pages, 2665 KB  
Article
Label-Free Rapid Quantification of Abscisic Acid in Xylem Sap Samples Using Surface Plasmon Resonance
by Laurien Volkaert, Sam Noppen, Veronika Turečková, Ondřej Novák, Dominique Schols, Jeroen Lammertyn, Bram Van de Poel and Dragana Spasic
Biosensors 2025, 15(11), 725; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios15110725 - 1 Nov 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1221
Abstract
The phytohormone abscisic acid (ABA) plays a central role in organizing adaptive responses in plants to various abiotic stresses, helping the plant minimize the negative impact on growth and development. Rapid and direct detection of ABA is valuable for investigating plant responses to [...] Read more.
The phytohormone abscisic acid (ABA) plays a central role in organizing adaptive responses in plants to various abiotic stresses, helping the plant minimize the negative impact on growth and development. Rapid and direct detection of ABA is valuable for investigating plant responses to abiotic stress. In this work, we propose a novel label-free, non-competitive immunoassay for detecting and quantifying ABA easily and rapidly using a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) biosensor. The SPR sensor chip was functionalized with a commercial anti-ABA antibody, characterized for its affinity, binding kinetics, and specificity using the same platform. The direct assay demonstrated high specificity and sensitivity, with a calculated limit of detection of 1.36 ng/mL in buffer. The new immunosensor was applied to determine ABA concentrations directly in xylem sap samples from tomato plants subjected to abiotic stress (drought and high salinity) and was able to accurately reflect ABA levels corresponding to the applied stress. The results were comparable to the reference method, ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS), establishing this new immunosensor as a novel detection method for rapid and reliable monitoring of ABA levels associated with abiotic stress in tomato plants. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Surface Plasmon Resonance-Based Biosensors and Their Applications)
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13 pages, 1507 KB  
Article
SERS-Based Immunoassay for α-Fetoprotein Biomarker Detection Using an Au-Ag Nanostars Platform
by Josué Ismael García-Ramírez, Marcos Luna-Cervantes, Irma Yadira Izaguirre-Hernández, Julián Hernández-Torres, Enrique Juárez-Aguilar, Pablo Thomas-Dupont, José María Remes-Troche and Luis Zamora-Peredo
Biosensors 2025, 15(9), 632; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios15090632 - 22 Sep 2025
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1739
Abstract
Spiky Au-Ag nanostars offer intense plasmonic enhancement due to their sharp-tipped morphology, enabling powerful surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). Here, we report a liquid-phase SERS platform that addresses current limitations in cancer biomarker detection, such as low sensitivity and dependence on Raman reporters. Nanostar [...] Read more.
Spiky Au-Ag nanostars offer intense plasmonic enhancement due to their sharp-tipped morphology, enabling powerful surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). Here, we report a liquid-phase SERS platform that addresses current limitations in cancer biomarker detection, such as low sensitivity and dependence on Raman reporters. Nanostar concentration was tuned by simple centrifugation (10, 30, and 60 min), and their SERS performance was evaluated using methylene blue (MB) and mercaptopropionic acid (MPA) as probe molecules. Signal intensity scaled with nanostar content, enabling sensitive detection. Optimized nanostars were functionalized with MPA, 1-Ethyl-3-(3-dimethylamino1-Ethyl-3-(3dimethylaminopropyl1) carbodiimide (EDC), and N-Hydroxy succinimide (NHS) for covalent attachment of monoclonal anti-α-fetoprotein antibodies (AFP-Ab), facilitating the detection of AFP antigens across 167–38 ng/mL (antibody) and 500–0 ng/mL (antigen) ranges. The limit of detection (LOD) for the antigens was determined to be 16.73 ng/mL. Unlike conventional SERS systems, this aqueous, surfactant-free platform exploits the intrinsic vibrational modes of AFP, enabling sensitive and rapid biomarker detection with strong potential for early cancer diagnostics. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Surface Plasmon Resonance-Based Biosensors and Their Applications)
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10 pages, 2418 KB  
Article
A New Approach to Examine Cell–Antibody Avidity with Surface Plasmon Resonance Imaging
by Richard B. M. Schasfoort, Elise van Doorn, Jos van Weperen, Anouk Mentink and Ruchi Bansal
Biosensors 2025, 15(9), 559; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios15090559 - 25 Aug 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1837
Abstract
In recent years, avidity has emerged as a critical parameter in antibody design, yet most current analytical instruments are limited to measuring affinity alone. This study aims to evaluate the capabilities and advantages of a novel surface plasmon resonance imaging instrument, CellVysion, designed [...] Read more.
In recent years, avidity has emerged as a critical parameter in antibody design, yet most current analytical instruments are limited to measuring affinity alone. This study aims to evaluate the capabilities and advantages of a novel surface plasmon resonance imaging instrument, CellVysion, designed to quantify cell–antibody avidity using a continuous antibody density gradient. A key feature of this approach is the identification of a “tipping point”—the specific ligand density, measured in µRIUs, at which cells remain bound to the sensor surface under defined shear flow conditions. In this paper, we present the technical principles and application of this method, demonstrating how avidity can be quantitatively assessed across different antibody–cell line combinations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Surface Plasmon Resonance-Based Biosensors and Their Applications)
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22 pages, 4664 KB  
Article
Numerical Study of a Novel Kagome-Inspired Photonic Crystal Fiber-Based Surface Plasmon Resonance Biosensor for Detection of Blood Components and Analytical Targets
by Ayushman Ramola, Amit Kumar Shakya, Ali Droby and Arik Bergman
Biosensors 2025, 15(8), 539; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios15080539 - 15 Aug 2025
Cited by 43 | Viewed by 1747
Abstract
This numerical study introduces a surface plasmon resonance (SPR)-based biosensor utilizing a kagome lattice-inspired hollow core photonic crystal fiber (PCF) for the highly sensitive detection of various blood biomarkers and analytical components. The sensor is designed to detect key blood biomarkers such as [...] Read more.
This numerical study introduces a surface plasmon resonance (SPR)-based biosensor utilizing a kagome lattice-inspired hollow core photonic crystal fiber (PCF) for the highly sensitive detection of various blood biomarkers and analytical components. The sensor is designed to detect key blood biomarkers such as water, glucose, plasma, and hemoglobin (Hb), as well as analytical targets including krypton, sylgard, ethanol, polyacrylamide (PA), and bovine serum albumin (BSA), by monitoring shifts in the resonance wavelength (RW). A dual-polarization approach is employed by analyzing both transverse magnetic (TM) and transverse electric (TE) modes. The proposed sensor demonstrates exceptional performance, achieving maximum wavelength sensitivities (Sw) of 18,900 nm RIU−1 for TM pol. and 16,800 nm RIU−1 for TE pol. Corresponding peak amplitude sensitivities (SA) of 71,224 RIU−1 for TM pol. and 58,112 RIU−1 for TE pol. were also observed. The peak sensor resolution (SR) for both modes is on the order of 10−6 RIU, underscoring its high precision. Owing to its enhanced sensitivity, compact design, and robust dual-polarization capability, the proposed biosensor holds strong promise for point-of-care diagnostics and real-time blood component analysis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Surface Plasmon Resonance-Based Biosensors and Their Applications)
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Review

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19 pages, 761 KB  
Review
Surface Plasmon Resonance as a Tool in Antiviral Drug Discovery Research
by Katarzyna E. Wegrzyn and John M. Matsoukas
Biosensors 2026, 16(3), 136; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios16030136 - 26 Feb 2026
Viewed by 916
Abstract
Viruses are an indispensable part of the environment we live in. The occurrence of seasonal and pandemic infections underscores the urgent need to develop new antiviral drugs or repurpose existing ones. Among the methods used in research on new antiviral molecules, surface plasmon [...] Read more.
Viruses are an indispensable part of the environment we live in. The occurrence of seasonal and pandemic infections underscores the urgent need to develop new antiviral drugs or repurpose existing ones. Among the methods used in research on new antiviral molecules, surface plasmon resonance (SPR) has a well-established position due to its diverse applications in interaction analysis. It can be used to investigate various molecules (proteins, nucleic acids, small-molecular drugs) in different configurations and in real time. Although it is a gold-standard method for biomolecular interaction analysis, it is not free of constraints. Here, we review research on SPR in antiviral drug discovery. We focus on experimental design and discuss the application of SPR to investigate key stages of viral infection and to characterize antiviral interactions. In addition, we address the main limitations and challenges associated with SPR measurements and consider strategies for adapting the technique to meet the specific needs of antiviral research. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Surface Plasmon Resonance-Based Biosensors and Their Applications)
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23 pages, 1332 KB  
Review
Probing Glycosaminoglycan–Protein Interactions: Applications of Surface Plasmon Resonance
by Changkai Bu, Lin Pan, Lianli Chi, Vitor H. Pomin, Jonathan S. Dordick, Chunyu Wang and Fuming Zhang
Biosensors 2026, 16(2), 71; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios16020071 - 25 Jan 2026
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1017
Abstract
Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) are highly negatively charged polysaccharides that play essential roles in numerous physiological and pathological processes through their interactions with proteins. These interactions govern cellular signaling, inflammation, coagulation, and recognition. Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) has emerged as a key biophysical technique for [...] Read more.
Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) are highly negatively charged polysaccharides that play essential roles in numerous physiological and pathological processes through their interactions with proteins. These interactions govern cellular signaling, inflammation, coagulation, and recognition. Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) has emerged as a key biophysical technique for label-free, real-time characterization of biomolecular interactions, offering insights into binding kinetics, affinity, and specificity. SPR-based approaches to glycosaminoglycan–protein interaction studies offer powerful tools for elucidating the roles of GAGs in a wide range of physiological and pathological processes. In this review, we systematically discuss experimental strategies, data analysis methods, and representative applications of SPR-based glycosaminoglycan–protein interactions. Special attention is given to the challenges associated with GAG heterogeneity and immobilization, as well as recent technological advances that enhance sensitivity and throughput. To our knowledge, this review represents one of the first systematic and up-to-date summaries specifically focused on recent advances in applying SPR to the study of glycosaminoglycan–protein interactions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Surface Plasmon Resonance-Based Biosensors and Their Applications)
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