Label-Free Sensing

The implementation of label-free sensing of biological and chemical agents allows

one to investigate the underlying physical and chemical characteristics and

interactions of target analytes while reducing both sample complexity and

preparation time. Sensor platforms incorporating label-free detection schemes

avoid the potentially confounding effects of molecular labels by monitoring the

target species directly, relying solely on the intrinsic physicochemical properties of

the target analyte. Because of the relatively minimal sample preparation, such

approaches are well suited for field applications and remote diagnostics where

either sample preparation facilities and/or trained personnel may be limited or

unavailable. This special issue highlights some diverse approaches to the

challenge of detecting target analytes without the need for labels. These

approaches principally focus on optical and electrochemical techniques, and offer

the promise of a rapid diagnostics tool that could be used in a clinical setting that

would minimize the time between identification and treatment. [...]