Future directions in all-optical label-free single-molecule sensing
This perspective discusses the future role of all-optical label-free single-molecule sensing. After summarizing the core working principles of the different detection modalities we discuss future research directions in terms of technology development and applications. In terms of future technologies we address research directions in the areas of multi-parametric and interaction free sensors, integration and miniaturization, and advanced data analysis. We further describe potential applications towards probing of protein interactions, DNA and protein sequencing, and molecular diagnostics.
Authors
- Philipp Kukura (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0136-7704)
- Frank Vollmer (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0565-4671)
- Christoph Langhammer (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2180-1379)
- Peter Zijlstra (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9804-2265)
- Reuven Gordon (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1485-6067)
- Koji Masuda
- Sang-Hyun Oh
Institutions
- University of Minnesota (US)
- University of Victoria (CA)
- University of Exeter (GB)
- University of Oxford (GB)
- Chalmers University of Technology (SE)
- Eindhoven University of Technology (NL)
Publication Details
- Journal
- npj Biosensing
- Published
- 2026-01-13
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s44328-025-00069-4
- Primary Topic
- Advanced Fluorescence Microscopy Techniques
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council