# Surface plasmon resonance biosensors: Advancements, applications, and future directions in molecular detection

**Authors:** Nidal El Biyari

PMC · DOI: 10.1016/j.biotno.2026.01.002 · 2026-02-13

## TL;DR

This paper reviews SPR biosensors, their advancements, and potential future uses in molecular detection across various fields.

## Contribution

A comprehensive overview of recent advancements and future directions in SPR biosensor technology and applications.

## Key findings

- SPR biosensors have improved in sensitivity, resolution, and throughput over recent years.
- Nanomaterials and microfluidics are promising advancements for SPR biosensors.
- SPR biosensors have potential in customized medicine and point-of-care diagnostics.

## Abstract

Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) biosensors have emerged as one of the most potent and adaptable methods for detecting molecular interactions in real-time and without labeling. SPR enables the accurate monitoring of biomolecular interactions in various contexts by detecting changes in refractive index near the sensor's surface. Over the last few decades, SPR technology has advanced dramatically, with improvements in sensor sensitivity, resolution, and throughput.

This study provides a comprehensive overview of SPR biosensors, highlighting recent advances in sensor technology, materials, and detection methodologies. We cover the fundamentals of SPR sensing and the factors that influence sensor performance, including metal selection, surface functionalization, and immobilization techniques. The report also looks at the wide range of applications for SPR biosensors, including drug development and illness diagnostics, as well as environmental monitoring and food safety.

The promise of SPR technology is further investigated by studying new advancements such as the incorporation of nanomaterials, microfluidics, and multi-analyte detection systems. We also explore the SPR biosensor's future directions, including existing limits and potential applications in customized medicine, point-of-care diagnostics, and quick environmental monitoring.

This review seeks to give a comprehensive overview of SPR biosensors, highlighting their potential to revolutionize molecular detection in a variety of disciplines, as well as outlining the obstacles and possibilities that lie ahead for their future development.

## Full-text entities

- **Genes:** IL6 (interleukin 6) [NCBI Gene 3569] {aka BSF-2, BSF2, CDF, HGF, HSF, IFN-beta-2}, CRP (C-reactive protein) [NCBI Gene 1401] {aka PTX1}, KLK3 (kallikrein related peptidase 3) [NCBI Gene 354] {aka APS, KLK2A1, PSA, hK3}, CUP2Q35 (Syndactyly, type I) [NCBI Gene 57306] {aka C2DUPq35, SD1, SDTY1}, ACE2 (angiotensin converting enzyme 2) [NCBI Gene 59272] {aka ACEH}
- **Diseases:** food allergies (MESH:D005512), COVID-19 (MESH:D000086382), infections (MESH:D007239), cardiovascular disease (MESH:D002318), allergies (MESH:D004342), breast cancer (MESH:D001943), infectious illnesses (MESH:D003141), cancer (MESH:D009369), autoimmune disorders (MESH:D001327), foodborne diseases (MESH:D005517), genetic disorders (MESH:D030342)
- **Chemicals:** carboxymethyl dextran (MESH:C014392), SiO2 (MESH:D012822), dextran (MESH:D003911), silicon (MESH:D012825), AMB-4ENPICA (-), Graphene (MESH:D006108), amine (MESH:D000588), carbon nanotubes (MESH:D037742), thiol (MESH:D013438), lipids (MESH:D008055), TiO2 (MESH:C009495), maleimide (MESH:C043592), cannabinoid (MESH:D002186), heavy metals (MESH:D019216), EDC (MESH:C024565), SO2 (MESH:D013458), lysine (MESH:D008239), FDU-PB-22 (MESH:C000706371), Au (MESH:D006046), Metal (MESH:D008670), MoS2 (MESH:C082964), carbon (MESH:D002244), polymer (MESH:D011108), PEG (MESH:D011092), His (MESH:D006639), polysaccharides (MESH:D011134), NO2 (MESH:D009585), CO (MESH:D002248), graphene oxide (MESH:C000628730), Al2O3 (MESH:D000537), AKB-48 (MESH:C000606545), amide (MESH:D000577), JWH-018 (MESH:C552597), biotin (MESH:D001710), Ag (MESH:D012834), MAM-2201 (MESH:C000594853), poly-dopamine (MESH:C568283)
- **Species:** Homo sapiens (human, species) [taxon 9606], Escherichia coli (E. coli, species) [taxon 562], Salmonella (genus) [taxon 590], Listeria (genus) [taxon 1637], Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (no rank) [taxon 2697049], Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus (no rank) [taxon 694009]

## Figures

14 figures with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12925214/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12925214