A non-invasive new method has been developed to monitor blood sugar levels. The new biosensor, called Depth-Indexed Refractive Optoacoustic Sensor (DIROS), utilizes 30-120 THz infrared optoacoustic signals to directly measure glucose concentrations in the blood-rich volumes of the skin.
a) Diagram of the microscopy system used in the study. b) Schematic of different layers of mouse skin (EP, epidermis; DR, dermis; HR, hypodermis; G, glucose). c) Combined mid-IR/VIS optoacoustic images; a representative example from 10 independent experiments. d) Raw optoacoustic signal corresponding to a wave number related to glucose. Reference: Non-invasive measurements of blood glucose levels by time-gating mid-infrared optoacoustic signals.
In a study published in the journal Nature Metabolism, researchers made significant progress in diabetes management by presenting a new, non-invasive method to track blood sugar levels. The new biosensor, named Depth-Indexed Refractive Optoacoustic Sensor (DIROS), eliminates the limitations of existing non-invasive glucose monitoring (NIGM) methods. Existing NIGM methods typically evaluate glucose levels in interstitial fluid. This new method, however, utilizes mid-infrared optoacoustic signals to directly measure glucose concentrations in blood-rich regions of the skin.
Traditional approaches to NIGM raise doubts about accuracy because they rely on indirect measurements affected by the dilution of glucose in interstitial fluid compared to blood and dynamic differences. DIROS overcomes this challenge by using mid-infrared optoacoustic signals in a pulsed manner on very short time scales, allowing targeted depth-selective glucose measurements through the skin. This technique significantly reduces errors arising from superficial skin layers and metabolically inactive tissues, thereby enhancing measurement precision.
The researchers demonstrated the effectiveness of DIROS through extensive in vivo studies on mice and showed its superior accuracy compared to current bulk tissue glucose assessment methods. DIROS achieved a high correlation with actual blood glucose levels validated by standard glucometer readings. Its ability to detect glucose selectively at depth and ignore non-specific signals from the epidermis represents a significant advance in the field of accurate and non-invasive glucose measurement.
The market introduction of DIROS could revolutionize diabetes management by providing a painless, accurate, and real-time monitoring solution, potentially improving the quality of life for millions of people living with diabetes. This innovation aligns with the growing demand for non-invasive medical monitoring technologies and underscores the importance of ongoing advancements in biomedical engineering.
The findings of the study underscore the potential of optoacoustic technology in medical diagnostics and pave the way for further research into non-invasive methods for monitoring other critical biomarkers beyond glucose. As the global diabetes epidemic continues to rise, technologies like DIROS offer hope for more effective disease management strategies, highlighting the importance of interdisciplinary research in solving complex health issues. This study represents a significant milestone in non-invasive diabetes management and illustrates the transformative impact of biomedical engineering innovations on healthcare. As research progresses, DIROS and similar technologies could become integral components of personalized medicine, offering new pathways for disease monitoring and management.
🔗 Explore the Study Further: https://www.nature.com/articles/s42255-024-01016-9
