Spatial-Photonic Encoding on a Single Fiber: Breaking the Bottleneck in Photoelectrochemical Biosensing for Precision...

Here we present, for the first time, a light-encoded, dual-zone, single optical fiber (Zonal@OF)-based photoelectrochemical (PEC) microelectrode for the simultaneous and spatially resolved quantification of multiple biomarkers. To overcome the limitations of external light sources and rigid electrodes in conventional PEC biosensors, a single optical fiber was precisely etched to create two independent sensing zones (Zone I and Zone II). Each zone was sequentially functionalized with a gold nanoparticle conductive layer, a zone-specific light-harvesting material (BiOI nanoflakes for Zone I; methylene blue for Zone II), and a corresponding target-specific aptamer (for NT-proBNP and cTnI, respectively). The core innovation enables wavelength-resolved operation: upon separate excitation at 450 and 650 nm, the two zones generate distinct, noninterfering photoelectrochemical signals, allowing for the simultaneous, cross-talk-free detection of NT-proBNP and cTnI. The developed Zonal@OF-PEC sensor demonstrates high sensitivity at the pg mL^-1 level, excellent specificity. By leveraging self-guided illumination and the miniaturized dimensions of optical fibers, along with achieving spatial-photonic encoding on a single fiber, this work demonstrates the potential of PEC biosensor to be further explored for real-time, multianalyte tracking. This capability bridges a critical gap toward their clinical translation in precision medicine.