Single-fiber probes for combined sensing and imaging in biological tissue: recent developments and prospects

Single-fiber-based sensing and imaging probes enable the co-located and simultaneous observation and measurement (i.e., 'sense' and 'see') of intricate biological processes within deep anatomical structures. This innovation opens new opportunities for investigating complex physiological phenomena and potentially allows more accurate diagnosis and monitoring of disease. This prospective review starts with presenting recent studies of single-fiber-based probes for concurrent and co-located fluorescence-based sensing and imaging. Notwithstanding the successful initial demonstration of integrated sensing and imaging within single-fiber-based miniaturized devices, the realization of these devices with enhanced sensing sensitivity and imaging resolution poses notable challenges. These challenges, in turn, present opportunities for future research, including the design and fabrication of complex lens systems and fiber architectures, the integration of novel materials and other sensing and imaging techniques.