Thermotropic liquid crystal films for biosensors and beyond.

We briefly review studies of liquid crystal films suspended in submillimeter size grids for biosensing applications and beyond. Due to intense recent research, the sensitivity of liquid crystal films to targeted biologically relevant agents can be increased, and the LC surface can be functionalized to be sensitive only to pre-assigned pathogens. Beyond sensor applications, we show that novel liquid crystal defect structures can be used to manipulate separation and deposition of lipids. Finally, we demonstrate that not only the nematic liquid crystal phase, but also chiral nematic (cholesteric and blue phase) and smectic liquid crystals can be used for sensing and may extend the sensitivity and/or the selection of biomaterials, which can be sensed.