Biocompatible hydrogel-based plasmonic sensor for glucose sensing

Continuous glucose monitoring is essential for improving the quality of life for diabetes patients. Current glucose sensors have limited lifespans, prompting the need for innovative solutions. Our research introduces a novel approach by combining a biocompatible hydrogel with gold nanostructures for glucose sensing. The transparent hydrogel incorporates 3-(Acrylamido)phenylboronic acid, a glucose-responsive component that changes the hydrogel's dimension by forming covalent bonds with 1,2-cis-diol. Gold nanostructures are synthesized using femtosecond laser multiphoton photoreduction, with characteristics varying based on incident laser power, line spacing, and 3D configuration. These metallic nanostructures exhibit shifting absorption spectra corresponding to glucose concentration changes. To enhance sensitivity to lower glucose levels, hydrogels can be further modified with tertiary amines. This hydrogel-based plasmonic sensor presents substantial promise for advancing hydrogel-based glucose monitoring.