Innovations in SPR Sensor Design: Nanomaterials and Hybrid Architectures for Next-Generation Sensing

Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensing is a cornerstone of optical detection technologies in the fields of biomedical diagnostics, environmental monitoring, and chemical analysis. SPR sensors enable real-time, label-free identification of analytes by detecting refractive index changes near a metal-dielectric interface, resulting in remarkable advances in sensitivity and detection speed. Nevertheless, despite significant developments, conventional SPR sensors face considerable limitations, including susceptibility to environmental noise, moderate sensitivity, and restricted detection ranges, which hinder their deployment for trace-level detection and early diagnostics. Recent studies have sought to address these challenges by incorporating nanomaterials, multilayer structures, and innovative plasmonic metals, driving a new wave of research to overcome these persistent barriers.This Research Topic aims to advance the state of SPR sensor technology by systematically investigating strategies for improving sensor performance. The primary objective is to explore novel sensor configurations, such as integrating two-dimensional nanomaterials, multilayer and hybrid plasmonic designs, and optimally engineered metal films, to achieve superior sensitivity, reliability, and lower detection limits. The research will focus on understanding how these approaches facilitate stronger light-matter interactions, diminish noise-related artifacts, and broaden the applicability of SPR sensors in complex real-world scenarios. The overarching goal is to develop highly efficient SPR platforms that push the boundaries of chemical and biological detection, paving the way for innovations in clinical and environmental applications.This Research Topic is open to original research, reviews, and perspectives that fall within the context of enhancing SPR sensor capabilities by advanced material design and structural engineering. It prioritizes contributions that propose, simulate, fabricate, or experimentally validate novel approaches, while excluding topics beyond SPR-based sensing technologies. To gather further insights in optimising SPR performance and broadening its real-world application, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:o Integration and application of advanced nanomaterials in SPR sensingo Design and characterization of multilayer and hybrid plasmonic structureso Fiber-optic SPR architectures and their practical benefitso Approaches for minimizing environmental noise and improving selectivityo Real-world case studies in biomedical, environmental, and chemical detectiono Theoretical and computational modeling of enhanced SPR sensorso Techniques for improving stability and detection limits in portable or field-deployable SPR platformso Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) and plasmonic biosensorso Nanophotonics and optical sensing technologieso 2D materials including graphene, MXenes, black phosphorus, and TMDCso Hybrid multilayer and metasurface sensor architectureso High-sensitivity refractive index and biomedical sensingo Computational and theoretical modeling of photonic materialso Applied optics and functional nanomaterials for sensing applicationsWe welcome original research articles, reviews, perspectives, and brief reports that contribute to the advancement of SPR sensing technology. Topic editors: Bhishma Karki, Dr. Yesudasu Vasimalla, Dr. Nasih Hma Salah Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/83377/innovations-in-spr-sensor-design-nanomaterials-and-hybrid-architectures-for-next-generation-sensing