Review on Research Progress of Photoelectrochemical Biosensors

Photoelectrochemical (PEC) biosensors have emerged as a significant research focus in the fields of bioanalysis and medical diagnostics in recent years due to their high sensitivity, low background noise, and ease of miniaturization. This review summarizes the fundamental principles of PEC biosensors, recent advances in photoactive materials, signal amplification strategies, and typical applications. Photoactive materials serve as the source of the sensor signal and can achieve signal enhancement through strategies such as heterostructure construction, localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) effects, and defect engineering. PEC sensors have been widely applied in areas such as cancer liquid biopsy and pathogen detection; however, challenges remain, including material biocompatibility, anti-interference capability in complex samples, and lack of standardized platforms. Future development trends include the design of green and low-toxicity photosensitive materials, integration with microfluidic and wearable devices, and artificial intelligence-assisted signal analysis, which will promote the translation of PEC biosensors toward clinical applications and real-time detection.