New method improves label-free detection of rare particles beyond sensor surfaces
Researchers have developed a new sensing technique that allows label-free particle detection to work outside the tiny sensing area of standard optical devices.
Limitations of current optical sensors
Most existing label-free optical sensors function only when targets pass extremely close to or bind to a small sensing area. At low concentrations, many particles miss this spot entirely, and their signals can be drowned out by background noise. This limitation applies to whispering-gallery-mode resonators, which are among the most sensitive optical sensors ever developed but still rely on a confined sensing region.
New approach expands detection range
The new method overcomes the constraint that targets must hit a specific spot on the device to be detected. This advancement addresses the growing demand for ultrasensitive, robust sensors capable of handling real-world samples without fluorescent tags. By expanding the effective sensing area, the technology improves efficiency for finding rare targets like circulating tumor cells in blood.
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