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Advances in Biosensing and BioMEMS for Biomedical Engineering

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A special issue of Sensors (ISSN 1424-8220). This special issue belongs to the section "Biosensors".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 28 February 2027 | Viewed by 4620

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Editor

Dr. Yuhao Qiang

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Guest Editor

Department of Engineering and Aviation Sciences, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Princess Anne, MD 21853, USA
Interests: bioMEMS; microfluidics; biosensors

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue aims to highlight recent advances at the interface of micro-nanotechnology, material science, engineering technologies, and life sciences. Our objective is to bring together innovative research on biosensing platforms and microelectromechanical systems designed to improve diagnostics, therapeutics, and health monitoring in laboratory and clinical settings. The collection emphasizes novel fabrication techniques, integration strategies, and applications that are transforming biomedical engineering. In addition to original research, we encourage papers offering perspectives and outlooks that chart future directions for the field, with the goal of fostering new insights and advancing next-generation healthcare technologies.

Dr. Yuhao Qiang
Guest Editor

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Keywords

biosensors
BioMEMS
point-of-care devices
biomedical engineering
lab-on-a-chip
personalized medicine
diagnostics

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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18 pages, 6892 KB

Open AccessArticle

Guided Electrokinetic Assembly of Functionalized Latex Beads for Fluorescence Signal Enhancement Using AC Electro-Osmosis

by Tuo Zhou, Alfonso Shin and Lawrence Kulinsky

Sensors 2026, 26(16), 5264; https://doi.org/10.3390/s26165264 - 20 Aug 2026

Viewed by 140

Abstract

Fluorescence-based immunoassays are widely used for sensitive and specific biomarker detection; however, further improvements in sensitivity remain desirable for detecting low-abundance analytes without increasing assay complexity. In this work, we present a proof-of-concept demonstration of guided electrokinetic assembly of functionalized latex beads as a post-assay signal enhancement strategy using alternating-current electro-osmosis (ACEO). Carboxyl-modified 1 μm polystyrene beads conjugated with Alexa Fluor 647-labeled anti-IgG were localized within lithographically defined windows on carbon interdigitated electrode arrays, producing localized fluorescence enhancement through physical bead localization without enzymatic amplification or additional labeling chemistries. Compatibility of the approach with fluorescence-based immunoassays was demonstrated through adaptation of a TNF-α ELISA workflow. Electro-osmotic localization of functionalized bead conjugates was achieved within 120 s, producing an approximately 12-fold increase in corrected total fluorescence relative to the corrected signal of the pre-electro-osmosis condition while demonstrating negligible enrichment of unbound fluorescent protein. Application of the platform to a TNF-α sandwich immunoassay yielded an approximately 5.5-fold enhancement in fluorescence signal, and robust bead localization was maintained across anti-IgG concentrations ranging from 1 to 4 μg/mL. These findings demonstrate that guided electrokinetic bead localization provides an effective signal enhancement strategy for fluorescence-based immunoassays and represents a promising approach for improving the detection of low-abundance analytes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Biosensing and BioMEMS for Biomedical Engineering)

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28 pages, 8005 KB

Open AccessArticle

A Pulsatile Flow-Modulation Microfluidic Sensor for Simultaneous Monitoring of Red Blood Cell Aggregation and Viscosity-Sensitive Time Constant

by Yang Jun Kang

Sensors 2026, 26(14), 4541; https://doi.org/10.3390/s26144541 - 17 Jul 2026

Viewed by 362

Abstract

Red blood cell (RBC) aggregation and viscosity-related flow resistance are important hemorheological parameters for assessing blood flow abnormalities, but their simultaneous measurement often requires multiple pumps or intermittent flow stoppage. In this study, we propose a single syringe pump microfluidic sensing method for simultaneous evaluation of RBC aggregation and transient flow response under continuous pulsatile blood delivery. The device consists of a single inlet, a main straight channel, a bifurcated test channel, and a big outlet. An optimized pulsatile-flow profile was applied by periodically switching the flow rate between high flow rate (Q_h = 6 mL/h for 2 min) and low flow rate (Q_l = 1 mL/h for 4 min), and the transient velocity response was analyzed to extract the time constant (λ₁) as a viscosity-related indicator. After optimization, the selected flow profile provides stable and reproducible measurements of both λ₁ and the RBC aggregation index (AI) while reducing unnecessary blood consumption. The λ₁ shows a strong correlation with viscosity and is significantly affected by syringe air compliance. The proposed AI exhibits consistent trends when compared with conventional aggregation indices. Furthermore, it exhibits temporal stability under continuous blood flow. Finally, the method is adopted to detect time-dependent changes in blood during continuous blood infusion, which demonstrates its potential as a simple, sensitive, and practical microfluidic sensor for real-time hemorheological monitoring. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Biosensing and BioMEMS for Biomedical Engineering)

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20 pages, 16744 KB

Open AccessArticle

Development of an Improved QCM-D Instrumentation for Affinity Sensing by Bioinspired Molecular-Imprinted Polymers (MIP) for IgG Detection in Serum

by Doretta Cuffaro, Lucia Bonasera, Elisa Nuti, Riccardo Galletti, Manuela Adami, Marco Sartore and Maria Minunni

Sensors 2026, 26(10), 2985; https://doi.org/10.3390/s26102985 - 9 May 2026

Viewed by 1364

Abstract

Quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) technology provides a powerful, label-free platform for monitoring molecular interactions in real time with nanogram sensitivity. Recent advances in compact instrumentation have enhanced analytical performance while reducing energy consumption, aligning with the principles of Green Analytical Chemistry. In parallel, the European Union has recommended the replacement of animal-derived antibodies with non-animal alternatives, creating an urgent need for sustainable affinity receptors. In this study, we present an innovative application of polynorepinephrine (PNE)-based molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) with a compact QCM sensing. PNE, a bioinspired polymer formed under mild aqueous conditions, offers strong adhesive properties and biocompatibility, enabling robust immobilization of imprinted receptors on gold-coated quartz disks. The resulting PNE-MIP/QCM platform combines the ultrasensitivity of quartz microbalances with the selectivity of molecular imprinting, delivering a reproducible and environmentally responsible affinity sensor. The sensor showed a limit of detection of 11.2 nM and enabled accurate IgG quantification in diluted human serum samples. As a proof of concept, the system was applied to Human Immunoglobulin G (IgG1) detection, demonstrating its potential for sustainable clinical diagnostics. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Biosensing and BioMEMS for Biomedical Engineering)

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13 pages, 4205 KB

Open AccessArticle

Development and First-in-Human Translation of Hyperpolarized [1-¹³C]Alpha-Ketoglutarate MR Spectroscopy in the Brain

by Yaewon Kim, Duy Dang, James Slater, Andrew Riselli, Donghyun Hong, Jeremy W. Gordon, Susan M. Chang, Yan Li, Javier E. Villanueva-Meyer, Adam W. Autry, Evelyn Escobar, Stacy Andosca, Hsin-Yu Chen, Chou T. Tan, Chris Suszczynski, Sri Maddali, Robert A. Bok and Daniel B. Vigneron

Sensors 2026, 26(9), 2753; https://doi.org/10.3390/s26092753 - 29 Apr 2026

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 912

Abstract

Alpha-ketoglutarate (aKG) is a central intermediate of cerebral energy metabolism and a precursor for glutamate synthesis in the brain. Alterations in aKG metabolism occur in pathological contexts, including isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) mutant astrocytomas and oligodendrogliomas, in which mutant IDH converts aKG to the oncometabolite 2-hydroxyglutarate. Given its central role in brain metabolism, non-invasive interrogation of aKG-dependent metabolic flux is needed. Hyperpolarized (HP) ¹³C MR enables real-time visualization of metabolic conversion by transiently enhancing signal intensity by several orders of magnitude. Leveraging this approach, we report the first-in-human feasibility and safety study of HP [1-¹³C]aKG MR spectroscopy in the healthy brain (n = 3). A standard operating procedure (SOP) was developed for sterile [1-¹³C]aKG dose production, achieving reproducible polarization levels averaging 30.5 ± 2.2%. Following intravenous administration, time-resolved ¹³C spectra in healthy volunteers demonstrated the detection of HP aKG resonance and a measurable downstream glutamate signal, consistent across repeat acquisitions, with a delayed temporal profile relative to aKG observed in a representative dataset. Although performed in healthy volunteers, these results establish feasibility for HP [1-¹³C]aKG metabolic imaging to open a new window into normal and pathological brain cellular metabolism. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Biosensing and BioMEMS for Biomedical Engineering)

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17 pages, 1845 KB

Open AccessReview

Cell-Based Immuno-Biosensors Using Microfluidics

by Briggs Pugner, Erik Petersson, Seedahmed Ahmed, Maha Mustafa, Justin Okoh and Yuhao Qiang

Sensors 2026, 26(6), 1970; https://doi.org/10.3390/s26061970 - 21 Mar 2026

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1292

Abstract

Cell-based immuno-biosensors are novel platforms for studying immune responses of biological cells, with real-time insights more similar to physiological and pathological conditions. These systems utilize living immune cells as their main components, enabling them to detect disease-related biomarkers and cellular traits in a way that is often highly sensitive and label-free. Integration with microfluidics and organ-on-chip technologies has facilitated precise manipulational control over the cellular microenvironment. Not only has this resulted in high-throughput screening, but it also enabled smaller, more portable systems which can be used at the point of care. In this work, we review the recent advance in microfluidic cell-based immuno-biosensing associated with immune cells such as neutrophils, macrophages, T cell and dendrite cells. Some of the exciting developments include fusion with methods such as advanced imaging, electrical impedance sensing and application of machine learning to phenotyping. We will also elaborate on the issues related to the standardization of these systems, cell heterogeneity, and the challenges for translating these technologies for clinical application. Taken together, such integrated platforms have potential to fill the gap left in-between cellular immunology with biosensor engineering. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Biosensing and BioMEMS for Biomedical Engineering)

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