A purely solid-state based method for bilirubin levels determination in plasma.

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Optical Sensing
• Solid-State Electronics

Background:

• Solid-state electronics have advanced biomedical engineering, enabling point-of-care testing devices.
• Miniaturization of electronics has led to low-cost, energy-efficient, and high-performance systems.
• Accurate bilirubin measurement is crucial for neonatal health, with traditional methods being complex.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel, simplified optical method for measuring plasma bilirubin concentrations.
• To utilize solid-state electronics and optical techniques for bilirubin quantification.
• To assess the method's viability for point-of-care (POC) applications.

Main Methods:

• Employed a dual-wavelength optical approach combined with photodegradation kinetics.
• Tracked spectral changes of bilirubin over 10 minutes to build a predictive model.
• Integrated a system-on-chip optical module for POC testing feasibility.

Main Results:

• Achieved a high positive correlation (R-square > 0.93) between optical responses and bilirubin concentration.
• Demonstrated an average accuracy of approximately 1.4 mg/dL for bilirubin measurement.
• Successfully distinguished between low, high, and risky bilirubin levels.

Conclusions:

• The proposed optical technique offers a simplified and accurate method for measuring bilirubin.
• The system's viability for point-of-care testing was confirmed, supporting rapid clinical decisions.
• This technology can aid in guiding neonatal therapeutic interventions like phototherapy or blood transfusions.