Liquid crystal-based sensors for the detection of biomarkers at the aqueous/LC interface

Abstract Decorating liquid crystals (LCs) with stimuli-responsive materials provides a bridge between the LCs and the biochemical interactions. The alignments of the LC molecules are particularly sensitive. Even small perturbations to the LC interface can substantially direct the orientation of bulk LC phases, which results in transduction and amplification of the chemical and biological events into readily detectable optical outputs. These characteristics make the LCs extremely alluring for the development of biosensors that allow highly sensitive and label-free detection of biomarkers at the aqueous/LC interface. In this review, we organize the LC-based sensing systems into six groups, including monolayer formation, monolayer removal, monolayer disruption, floating LC droplets, sessile LC droplets, and LC elastomer microspheres. The principle, utilization, advancement, and limitations of each platform for the detection of various biomarkers are discussed in detail, which will help expand our understanding of the development of LC-based sensors for advanced diagnostic and therapeutic approaches.