Advances in Fiber Optic DNA-Based Sensors: A Review

DNA is becoming increasingly important in the domain of optical fiber sensors, either as a tool for biosensing, or as a target to detect. In this review the main contributions of the last years are presented both in the domain of wavelength and intensity based configurations. This review comprises the use of natural single strand DNA (ssDNA) sequences as receptors for the detection of ssDNA sequences through hybridization, synthetic nucleic acids receptors for detection of complementary ssDNA sequences, and sensors based on natural and synthetic ssDNA receptors used for the detection of non-DNA targets. Parameters such as sensitivity, detection range and limit of detection are analyzed and discussed in detail to the purpose of comparing the different technologies and knowing the future lines to follow in the domain of fiber optic DNA-based sensors.