Photonic Crystal Fiber-Based Sensors for Various Cancer Detection in Human Body: A Review

The development of compact, highly sensitive sensors for real-time analyte detection is crucial for medical diagnostics. The promising characteristics of photonic crystal fibers (PCFs) have captivated researchers, driving efforts to develop sensors for early cancer detection. The microscopic air holes within the PCF structure allow analytes to be inserted, enabling precise interaction between confined light and analyte for detecting malignancies. This review examines PCFs’ potential in cancer detection, focusing on principles like evanescent waves (EWs), surface plasmon resonance (SPR), surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS), and interferometry. SPR-based PCF sensors stand out for their design flexibility and optical properties, showing great promise for cancer detection and potential clinical applications. This review also emphasizes recent developments in PCF-SPR sensors, addressing their performance and possible improvements.