SPR Sensing: From Biomolecular Interactions to Cell-Based Analysis

Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) is a key tool for quantifying biomolecular interactions, and its use in studying interacting components outside cellular systems is well-established. Over the past 20-25 years, cell-based SPR techniques have emerged, with the promise of precise detection of molecular interactions within their normal physiological environment. Research on a wide variety of biological samples, which requires the detection of numerous parameters, has led to the development of a broad range of SPR techniques. This review aims to trace the chronological development of these techniques and the factors that have driven them. In this context, particular focus is given to grating-coupled SPR applied to cell assays. Its specific capabilities are examined, and the respective advantages and disadvantages of other SPR techniques are discussed based on the results obtained from studying specific biological objects. Finally, we venture to predict the promising SPR techniques, as well as the areas of application in which significant results can be expected.