Trends in Novel and Intelligent Optical Biosensing Technologies and Detection Systems

Dear Colleagues,

We invite you to contribute to this Special Issue, entitled “Trends in Novel and Intelligent Optical Biosensing Technologies and Detection Systems.” This Special Issue will highlight cutting-edge progress in optical biosensors and advanced detection platforms across a broad range of applications, particularly in the biomedical field—from early disease diagnosis to therapy monitoring.

Optical biosensors for biomedical applications continue to receive increasing attention from the scientific community due to their high sensitivity, rapid response, and compatibility with modern precision-medicine strategies. Recent innovations such as point-of-care (PoC) analysis, smart sensor systems, lab-on-a-chip devices, and paper-based diagnostic platforms have significantly advanced the development of accurate, ultra-sensitive, and user-friendly assays for future clinical applications.

In addition, quantum nanophotonic platforms and related emerging technologies are expected to play a leading role in the next generation of advanced optical biosensing. These quantum-enhanced strategies offer unprecedented sensitivity, resolution, and miniaturization, opening new opportunities for both fundamental research and clinical translation.

We welcome manuscripts that present original research, technological innovations, and comprehensive review articles offering in-depth analyses of sensor performance and system-level characteristics. Submissions that address current challenges, future perspectives, and the integration of intelligent analytical approaches (e.g., AI-assisted detection, data-driven calibration, machine learning-based interpretation) are particularly encouraged.

Scope of the Special Issue:

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Plasmonic biosensors (prism-based, grating-based, waveguide-based, fiber-based, etc.);
• Plasmonic nanostructures and metamaterials;
• Plasmonic surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS);
• Spectroscopic ellipsometry-based SPR biosensors;
• Plasmonic tweezers;
• Optical instrumentation and detection systems;
• Optical sensing materials and functionalized interfaces;
• Optical biomedical applications for diagnostics and therapy monitoring;
• Quantum sensing technologies;
• Quantum nanophotonic and nano-optomechanical platforms;
• Smart optical biosensors and intelligent signal-processing algorithms;
• Lab-on-a-chip and integrated photonic biosensing platforms;
• Point-of-care and portable diagnostic devices.

Aim and Significance:

This Special Issue aims not only to summarize recent achievements but also to stimulate new research directions and inspire future developments in optical biosensing technologies. By bringing together state-of-the-art approaches from photonics, nanotechnology, materials science, biotechnology, and data science, this issue will serve as a comprehensive resource for researchers seeking to understand emerging trends and future challenges in the field.

Both original research articles and comprehensive review papers are highly welcome.

We look forward to receiving your high-quality contributions.

Prof. Dr. Nan-Fu Chiu
Prof. Dr. Zigmas Balevičius
Dr. Justina Anulyte
Dr. I-Cheng Chen
Dr. Tung-Sheng Chen
Dr. Chieh-Han Lu
Dr. Hsiang-Han Chen
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the Special Issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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-anonymized 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 2200 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.