Transcutaneous glucose sensing by surface-enhanced spatially offset Raman spectroscopy in a rat model

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Analytical Chemistry
• Spectroscopy

Background:

• Continuous glucose monitoring is crucial for diabetes management.
• Existing methods often require invasive procedures or lack real-time quantitative data.
• Developing non-invasive techniques for in vivo metabolite sensing remains a significant challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present the first quantitative, in vivo, transcutaneous glucose measurements.
• To demonstrate the feasibility of using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) combined with spatially offset Raman spectroscopy (SORS) for glucose sensing.
• To establish a novel platform for non-invasive metabolite monitoring.

Main Methods:

• Utilized silver film over nanosphere (AgFON) surfaces functionalized with a mixed self-assembled monolayer (SAM).
• Implanted the functionalized AgFON sensor subcutaneously in Sprague-Dawley rats.
• Collected surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SER) spectra through the skin using spatially offset Raman spectroscopy (SORS) to monitor interstitial fluid glucose concentration.

Main Results:

• Achieved quantitative, in vivo, transcutaneous glucose measurements.
• Demonstrated successful monitoring of glucose concentration in interstitial fluid.
• Validated the combined SERS and SORS approach for in vivo sensing.

Conclusions:

• The combination of SERS and SORS offers a powerful new approach for in vivo metabolite and drug sensing.
• This technique holds promise for non-invasive, real-time glucose monitoring.
• The developed method advances the field of transcutaneous biosensing.