Perspectives on systematic optimization of ultrasensitive biosensors through experimental design

Abstract

Biosensors have demonstrated versatility across numerous applications; however, their systematic optimization remains a primary obstacle, limiting their widespread adoption as dependable point-of-care tests. Experimental design, a powerful chemometric tool, offers a solution by effectively guiding the development and optimization of ultrasensitive biosensors. This perspective review provides an overview of recent applications of experimental design in the deployment of optical and electrical ultrasensitive biosensors. Various experimental designs, including full factorial, central composite, and mixture designs, are examined as systematic methodologies for optimizing biosensor fabrication, accounting for both individual variable effects and their interactions. Illustrative examples showcasing the optimization of optical and electronic biosensors through design of experiments are presented and critically analyzed. Finally, the future prospects of experimental design in the biosensor community are outlined, highlighting its potential to expedite development and bolster the performance of biosensing devices for point-of-care diagnostics, thereby facilitating their sustainable and reliable integration.