Recent Advances in Metasurfaces: From THz Biosensing to Microwave Wireless Communications

In recent years, important progress has been made in the field of biosensing and wireless communications by using metamaterials and metasurfaces. These technologies enable efficient manipulation of electromagnetic waves through judiciously designed subwavelength structural units. This review begins by focusing on the design and optimization of terahertz metasurface sensors, emphasizing their unique advantages in biomedical diagnostics. It explores key technical challenges, such as material selection, device integration, and development of robust sensor for surface-specific modifications. Furthermore, the review discusses how metasurfaces, particularly as reconfigurable intelligent surfaces, dynamically modulate electromagnetic wave propagation in the microwave communications domain to enhance signal quality, improve communication efficiency, and showcase their potential in 5G and future 6G technologies. Finally, a comprehensive overview is provided regarding the challenges and future research directions for metamaterial and metasurface technologies in both biosensing and wireless communications, with the ultimate goal of promoting their applications in point-of-care devices and efficient communication systems.