All-dielectric optical biosensors based on bound states in the continuum: a new paradigm in healthcare and food quality assessment

Large-area and transparent all-dielectric metasurfaces supporting photonic bound states in the continuum (BICs) offer several inherent advantages for highly sensitive biosensing applications. A BIC represents a unique mode within the energy spectrum of free-space waves that remains uncoupled with free-space radiation, resulting in a divergent radiative Q-factor and a topological singularity in reciprocal space. In this study, the synergistic combination of photonic crystal slabs (PhCS) supporting bound states in the continuum (BIC) with aptamers and molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) offers a groundbreaking approach to achieving ultrahigh sensitivity in detecting mycotoxins in wine and cytokines in artificial saliva. Mycotoxins, toxins produced by certain fungi, pose significant health risks when present in food and beverages like wine. Our research endeavors represent a significant step forward in the field of biosensing, offering a pathway toward the development of versatile, efficient, and reliable sensing platforms with broad applications across scientific, industrial, and societal domains.