Flexible Microwave Biosensor for Skin Abnormality Detection Based on Spoof Surface Plasmon Polaritons

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Electromagnetics
• Dermatology

Background:

• Point-of-care testing is crucial for detecting skin abnormalities.
• Current methods lack sufficient depth and are non-invasive.
• Flexible biosensors are needed for effective skin monitoring.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and evaluate a flexible microwave biosensor for skin abnormality detection.
• To assess the sensor's performance for point-of-care testing and continuous monitoring.
• To achieve non-invasive detection with sufficient penetration depth.

Main Methods:

• A flexible microwave biosensor utilizing spoof surface plasmon polaritons was designed.
• The biosensor operates at 11.3 GHz and is attachable to any skin surface.
• Sensor performance was evaluated by measuring resonant frequency and reflection coefficient, tested on pork skin.

Main Results:

• The flexible biosensor successfully detected various skin abnormalities, including burns and tumors.
• The sensor demonstrated sufficient penetration depth due to microwave electromagnetic wave penetration.
• The device is suitable for point-of-care testing and continuous skin monitoring.

Conclusions:

• The developed flexible microwave biosensor is a promising tool for non-invasive skin abnormality detection.
• This technology enables point-of-care testing and continuous monitoring of skin health.
• The sensor offers advantages in penetration depth and flexibility compared to existing methods.