Frontiers in Optical Sensing and Biosensing

The continuously growing industrial, urban and agricultural emissions have a strong negative impact on ecology, quality of life and the health of modern society. In this context, there is growing interest in new technologies that enable real-time emissions monitoring. Thanks to their low cost, easy automation and suitability for in-situ applications, chemical optical sensors and biosensors are attractive tools for the fast screening of contaminants in the environment, for industrial control, clinical analysis and healthcare, foodstuffs assessment, and many more applications.Modern optical sensors often require neither a wired connection to the detector nor sophisticated, energy-consuming hardware, thus enabling the development of wearable and wireless devices. Novel optical sensors and biosensors — including optical sensor arrays, which have demonstrated superior performance at low analyte concentrations and where individual sensors lack selectivity — are increasingly called for. They are particularly suited to the detection of target analytes in complex multianalyte mixtures, as well as to the assessment of tastes and odours.The goal of this Research Topic is to highlight recent advances in the development of novel optical sensors and sensor arrays for a wide range of applications, from environmental monitoring and industrial control to healthcare and foodstuffs analysis. Particular attention will be paid to the analytical methods and procedures used in optical sensing, as well as to the elucidation of the underlying sensing mechanisms.Contributions of particular interest include the detection of pollutants in the environment; taste and quality assessment of beverages and food products; chemical compounds used as markers to monitor changes in analysed samples; sensor applications in robotics; and the application of machine learning and AI approaches to optical sensing.We welcome Original Research, Review, Mini Review and Perspective articles on themes including, but not limited to:• Design, synthesis and development of novel optical (bio)chemical sensors• Optical response chemistry and the mechanisms involved• Multisensor optical systems• Detection of emerging contaminants such as pharmaceuticals, toxins, pesticides and personal care products• Applications to water and food quality, taste and odour assessment• Applications in robotics, including machine learning and AI approaches• Optical sensor array data analysis: image and signal processing, pattern recognition, chemometrics, AI and deep learning Topic editors: Larisa Lvova, Radislav A. Potyrailo Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/80747/frontiers-in-optical-sensing-and-biosensing