Fundamental limits of accuracy and precision in single molecule biosensors

TL;DR

This paper extends classical molecular sensing limits to biosensors, exploring the fundamental physical constraints on their accuracy and precision, and proposing two methods to estimate concentration amidst noise, revealing a trade-off between precision and accuracy.

Contribution

It introduces a theoretical framework for understanding the physical limits of biosensor accuracy and precision, adapting classical molecular sensing concepts to engineered biosensors.

Findings

Identifies a fundamental trade-off between accuracy and precision in biosensors.

Proposes two approaches for concentration estimation with noisy biosensors.

Extends biological sensing limits to engineered biosensor systems.

Abstract

Physical limit of molecular sensing has been extensively studied in biological systems. Biosensors are engineered equivalents of molecular sensors in living systems and play critical role in disease diagnosis and management. Investigation into the physical limits of biosensors could have major beneficial impact on early disease diagnosis. Here, we present an extension of the classical works on molecular sensing limits of living systems to the realm of biosensors. Two approaches are proposed to estimate concentration with noisy biosensors. We find a trade-off between precision and accuracy.