[Research progress and clinical application potential of silicon-based microring resonators in biomedical detection]

Abstract

Silicon-based microring resonator (SMRR), as a typical application of label-free detection in optical biosensors, performs advantages such as small size, high sensitivity, and ease of integration, making it suitable for detecting physical, chemical, and biological signals. Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a common neurodegenerative disorder with high concealment, while early intervention can effectively slow its progression. For early diagnosis of AD, optical detection platforms based on SMRR can effectively overcome the challenges posed by low-abundance biomarkers and interfering factors in blood screening, demonstrating the potential for ultra-sensitive detection with low false positives. However, the clinical application of SMRR in AD detection is currently limited due to significant differences in optimized designs, the lack of commercial off-the-shelf chips and unified detection platforms, and high costs. Additionally, the biomarkers for early AD diagnosis are controversial, limiting their diagnostic utility. This paper reviews the sensing principles of SMRR and summarizes its research progress in the biomedical field. With AD as the research focus, we have discussed the main application limitations of SMRR-based detection technology and its clinical potential in early AD diagnosis. In the future, the standardization, integration, and universal applicability of silicon-based microring resonator technology may emerge as key development directions, aiming to develop mature commercial detection instruments and promote their widespread application in clinical diagnosis.

Keywords: Alzheimer's disease; biomarkers; clinical application potential; silica-based microring resonators.