Optical Biosensors Based on Silicon-On-Insulator Ring Resonators: A Review

Abstract

Recent developments in optical biosensors based on integrated photonic devices are reviewed with a special emphasis on silicon-on-insulator ring resonators. The review is mainly devoted to the following aspects: (1) Principles of sensing mechanism, (2) sensor design, (3) biofunctionalization procedures for specific molecule detection and (4) system integration and measurement set-ups. The inherent challenges of implementing photonics-based biosensors to meet specific requirements of applications in medicine, food analysis, and environmental monitoring are discussed.

Keywords

• biosensors
• biophotonics
• integrated optical sensors
• aptamers
• biomaterials
• optical sensor
• silicon photonics
• ring resonators
• lab-on-a-chip