(INVITED) Advances in photonic crystal fiber: sensing and supercontinuum generation applications

•This review summarizes and analyses recent advances in the design of PCF sensors for sensing and supercontinuum generation applications.•This review discusses recent structural designs based on the PCF platform that have emerged in various technologies such as SERS, SPR, EWs, and interferometric.•The review discusses various aspects of PCF-based sensors, including (i)RI sensing (ii) liquid sensing (iii) temperature sensing (iv) chemical sensing (v) bio-sample detection (vi) gas detection (vii) supercontinuum generation.•Additionally, this review discusses the advantages and disadvantages of various PCF-based sensing techniques.•A prospect for future advancements in the development of PCF sensors for point-of-care and clinical use is highlighted.•The current trend in PCF sensing is also discussed, including anti-resonant fiber-based sensors and various background materials such as Zeonex, topas, polytetrafluoroethylene, and polypropylene.