Optical Immunosensors for the Efficient Detection of Target Biomolecules

Recently, immunosensors have attracted attention because they are widely applied for the detection of various pathogens. Among the commonly used immunosensors, the optical immunosensor features prominently as an effective tool for the quantification of the amount of antibodies, antigens, or haptens in complex samples with high sensitivity and specificity. However, very few studies provide comprehensive overviews of optical immunosensors. In this review, we present various methods and applications of optical immunosensors in pathogen detection. We introduced a concise definition of optical immunosensors and the principle of using them for detection. We subsequently discuss the main categories of optical immunosensors and their application to the detection of pathogens, as well as their advantages and limitations. Recent publications from 2006 to 2015 on variously designed optical immunosensors have also been updated. We conclude the review with a brief summary and discuss future directions of optical immunosensors.