Plasmonic Optical Fiber Based Continuous in-Vivo Glucose Monitoring for ICU/CCU Setup

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Nanotechnology
• Analytical Chemistry

Background:

• Continuous monitoring of biomarkers is crucial for critical care patients in Intensive Care Units (ICU) and Cardiac Care Units (CCU).
• Existing continuous monitoring devices face challenges with biofouling and limited sensitivity in direct blood measurements.
• Rapid and accurate biomarker measurement is essential for timely medical intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a novel sensor architecture for continuous, direct blood biomarker monitoring.
• To enhance sensor sensitivity and longevity by mitigating biofouling issues.
• To demonstrate the proof-of-concept for in-vivo glucose monitoring using the proposed sensor system.

Main Methods:

• An optical fiber sensor functionalized with gold nanoparticles (NPs) for localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) sensing.
• Integration of a microdialysis probe to prevent sensor fouling by blood cells and debris.
• In-vivo testing in a rat model for continuous glucose monitoring in circulation.

Main Results:

• The sensor architecture demonstrated highly sensitive opto-chemical sensing of glucose.
• The microdialysis probe effectively prevented sensor fouling, enabling prolonged monitoring.
• Achieved a sensitivity of 0.0354 a.u./mg.dL and a detection limit of 50.89 mg/dL for glucose in-vivo.

Conclusions:

• The developed optical fiber sensor with gold nanoparticles and microdialysis offers a promising platform for continuous in-vivo biomarker monitoring.
• This technology has the potential to significantly improve patient care in critical settings by providing real-time physiological data.
• The sensor design addresses key limitations of current continuous monitoring systems, offering enhanced sensitivity and durability.