Exploiting the Potential of OLED-Based Photo-Organic Sensors for Biotechnological Applications

Abstract

Micro- and millilitre-scale sensors have become increasingly important in modern biotechnology. Miniaturization and parallelization are also commonly employed in bio-analytical applications, environmental science and bioprocess engineering. This reduction of dimensions to the micro- and milliliter-scale stems from the demand for new sensor systems that enable non-invasive monitoring of bioprocesses in microfluidic or on-chip devices. Highly sensitive optical (bio-) sensors, with operating principles based on photoluminescence intensity or lifetime detection, hold significant promise for meeting the space-limited conditions within miniaturized biotechnological systems. In this context, the properties and applications of OLED-based organic sensors in biotechnology are discussed. The possibleuse of OLEDs as excitation sources in (analytical) biotechnological applications is also examined.