Surface plasmon resonance biosensor chips: Fabrications and pharmaceutical applications

Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) biosensors have emerged as powerful analytical tools for label-free, real-time monitoring of biomolecular interactions in pharmaceutical research. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of recent advancements in SPR biosensor technology, with an emphasis on novel surface modification strategies, immobilization chemistries, and nanomaterial integration. Unlike previous reviews, this work systematically compares the performance of various SPR chip designs- such as self-assembled monolayers (SAMs), carboxymethylated dextran (CMD), and nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA)-functionalized platforms, highlighting their advantages and limitations in sensitivity, specificity, and reusability. Recent literature is critically examined to reveal how emerging techniques, including multifunctional biochips and zwitterionic coatings, outperform traditional CMD-based systems in complex biological matrices. The integration of SPR with complementary techniques such as electrochemistry and mass spectrometry is also discussed for enhancing analytical depth. Additionally, future trends like AI-assisted data analysis and in vivo biosensing are outlined. This work offers a forward-looking perspective that bridges technological gaps and guides the development of next-generation SPR biosensors for pharmaceutical applications.