The researchers, including Polish optics specialist Zbigniew Jaroszewicz of the National Institute of Telecommunications, said their approach could one day support quick, low-cost screening in clinics or at home, but stressed that the work is still at the computer simulation stage.
Experts estimate the number of diabetic cases in Poland at around 3.5 million, with about 1 million of those remaining undiagnosed.
or many people with diabetes, day-to-day care depends on routinely checking glucose levels. That often means drawing blood from a fingertip or using a wearable sensor attached to the skin.
The research team started from a urine sample, where glucose can appear when blood sugar level is high.
In a paper published in the journal Optik, the scientists describe a sensor based on a technique called surface plasmon resonance.
The method tracks how light reflects off a very thin metal layer. At a specific angle, the reflected light suddenly decreases because the light’s energy excites electrons on the metal surface.
That decrease acts like a marker. When a liquid sample is placed on the surface, the marker shifts, and the amount of shift can indicate changes in the sample’s optical properties.
The team modeled how increasing glucose concentration in urine would change the sample’s refractive index, a basic measure of how light travels through a substance, and how that would move the resonance marker.
Their simulations suggest the shift should be large enough to distinguish low-glucose samples from higher-glucose samples in a stable, measurable way.
To strengthen the signal, the researchers proposed a multi-layer structure, intended to boost sensitivity and protect moisture-sensitive materials.
The scientists said a major hurdle comes next, if the design moves beyond simulation.
Real-world urine contains many substances that could interfere with readings. Any practical device would need testing to confirm durability in humid conditions, resistance to contamination, and reliable calibration for everyday use.
Even if those challenges are met, the researchers describe the idea as a noninvasive monitoring and screening tool rather than a direct replacement for standard blood-glucose measurements.
The Warsaw-based National Institute of Telecommunications is a research and development institution for telecommunications and information technology.
(rt/gs)
Source: naukawpolsce.pl