Using a filter works for me in C#.
string s = "searchTerm";
var filter = Builders<Model>.Filter.Where(p => p.Title.ToLower().Contains(s.ToLower()));
var listSorted = collection.Find(filter).ToList();
var list = collection.Find(filter).ToList();
It may even use the index because I believe the methods are called after the return happens but I haven't tested this out yet.
This also avoids a problem of
var filter = Builders<Model>.Filter.Eq(p => p.Title.ToLower(), s.ToLower());
that mongodb will think p.Title.ToLower() is a property and won't map properly.