Flexible Optoelectronic Hybrid Microfiber Long-period Grating Multimodal Sensor

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Materials Science
• Optoelectronics

Background:

• Flexible wearable biosensors are crucial for diabetes management, but miniaturization of multimodal sensors remains challenging.
• Integrating multiple sensing modalities into a single, compact device is essential for advanced diagnostics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel optoelectronic hybrid multimodal optical fiber sensor.
• To enable simultaneous optical and electrical sensing for comprehensive physiological monitoring.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a sensor using laser-induced graphene (LIG) electrodes patterned on polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and a long period grating (LPG) microfiber.
• Integration of glucose oxidase into a conductive hydrogel for electrical glucose sensing.
• Encapsulation of LPG microfiber within PDMS, modulated by LIG electrode periodicity.

Main Results:

• The sensor successfully integrates optical (LPG) and electrical (LIG) sensing mechanisms in a compact form factor.
• Demonstrated simultaneous and independent operation of optical and electrical sensors.
• Validated functionality in real-time monitoring during wound healing in a rat model and human exercise.

Conclusions:

• The proposed optoelectronic hybrid sensor represents a significant advancement in multifunctional wearable biosensors.
• This platform enables simultaneous measurement of biomechanical information and glucose levels.
• The technology holds promise for improved diabetes management and personalized healthcare applications.