Microstructured Waveguide Sensors for Point-of-Care Health Screening

Biosensor technologies in medicine, as in many other areas, are replacing labor-intensive methods of monitoring human health. In this paper, the results of experimental studies of label-free sensors based on hollow-core microstructured optical waveguide (HC-MOW) for human blood serum analysis obtained. The HC-MOWs with a hollow core of 247,5 µm in diameter were manufactured and used in our work. These parameters make it possible to fill the hollow core with high-viscosity solutions due to the capillary properties of the fiber waveguide. Calculations of the spectral properties of HC-MOW fiber were carried out and experimentally confirmed. 21 blood serum samples from volunteers were examined using standard photometry (commercial kits) and an experimental biosensor. The obtained transmission spectra were processed by the principal component analysis method and conclusions were drawn about the possibility of using this biosensor in point-of-care medicine. A significant difference was shown between the blood serum of patients with normal and abnormal blood levels. Algorithms for spectra processing using the Origin program are presented..