# Research Advances in Conjugated Polymer-Based Optical Sensor Arrays for Early Diagnosis of Clinical Diseases

## TL;DR

This paper reviews how conjugated polymers can be used in optical sensor arrays to detect diseases early with high accuracy.

## Contribution

The paper provides a systematic review of design strategies for conjugated polymers in sensor arrays for disease diagnosis.

## Key findings

- Conjugated polymers offer high sensitivity and signal amplification for sensor arrays.
- Tailored CP materials have shown diagnostic capabilities for diseases like cancer and Alzheimer's.
- Structure–property relationships are key to optimizing sensing performance.

## Abstract

Early and accurate diagnosis is critical for disease surveillance, therapeutic guidance, and relapse monitoring. Sensor arrays have emerged as a multi-analyte detection tool via non-specific interactions to generate unique fingerprint patterns with high levels of selectivity and discrimination. Conjugated polymers (CPs), with their tunable π-conjugated backbones, exceptional light-harvesting capability, and efficient “molecular wire effect,” provide an ideal and versatile material platform for such arrays, enabling significant optical signal amplification and high sensitivity. This review systematically outlines the rational design and functionalization strategies of CPs for constructing high-performance sensor arrays. It delves into the structure–property relationships that govern their sensing performance, covering main-chain engineering, side-chain functionalization, and microenvironmental regulation. Representative applications are discussed, including non-small cell lung cancer, breast cancer, bacterial and viral infections, Alzheimer’s disease, and diabetic nephropathy, highlighting the remarkable diagnostic capabilities achieved through tailored CP materials. Finally, future perspectives are focused on novel material designs and device integration to advance this vibrant field.