Diabetes Monitoring Wearable Technology | Nanyang Technological University | Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Synopsis

This innovation introduces the first laser-based health monitoring bandage, a non-invasive glucose monitoring device designed for real-time sweat analysis for chronic disease monitoring. The smart bandage for glucose detection embeds laser sensors in a hydrogel patch to detect metabolites within two minutes through sweat secreted on the skin. This wearable glucose sensing device provides highly sensitive and rapid results, enabling continuous diabetes monitoring wearable technology with minimal discomfort.

Opportunity

Singapore ranks among the highest globally for diabetes incidence, requiring improved monitoring solutions. Traditional glucose testing methods, such as needle-prick or capillary blood tests, are invasive and inconvenient for frequent use. In contrast, sweat-based glucose monitoring offers non-invasiveness, portability and continuous tracking, making it an ideal alternative. While optical wearables have advanced significantly, existing devices face challenges in multi-analyte sensing and multiplexed detection.

This innovation leverage micro-laser technology to amplify signals, providing a breakthrough in diabetes monitoring wearable technology. Unlike previous methods using Raman scattering and photonic crystals, this wearable glucose sensing device achieves unparalleled sensitivity and precision. By enabling real-time multi-analyte detection, it offers a transformative approach to chronic disease monitoring and personalised healthcare.

Technology

The laser-based health monitoring bandage integrates miniature laser sensors within a hydrogel thin-film patch. Each cholesteric liquid crystal (CLC) microdroplet serves as a whispering gallery mode (WGM) resonator, amplifying subtle biochemical changes in sweat. The hydrophilic polymer matrix allows small molecules to penetrate the laser microdroplets, causing a wavelength shift in the laser emission spectra, which is then analysed for real-time metabolite monitoring.

By simply modifying the CLC microdroplets, the multi-analyte sensing plaster can be tailored to detect various biomarkers, making it adaptable for broad-spectrum health monitoring. The flexible and disposable design ensures cost-effective, daily-use applications for healthcare and fitness tracking.

Figure 1. Working principle of the modified CLC microdroplets for multiplexed sensing.

Figure 1. Working principle of the modified CLC microdroplets for multiplexed sensing.

Applications & Advantages

Applications:

Diabetes monitoring wearable technology for continuous glucose tracking.
Non-invasive glucose monitoring device for painless health assessment.
Sweat analysis for chronic disease monitoring, including metabolic and cardiovascular conditions.
Multi-analyte sensing plaster for personalised health tracking.
Smart bandage for glucose detection in medical and fitness applications.

Advantages:

Highly sensitive detection with minimal limits of metabolite identification.
Fast, non-invasive glucose monitoring within two minutes.
Customisable detection of target biomarkers by modifying laser microdroplets.
Versatile laser-based sensing platform adaptable to various medical applications.
Low-cost and disposable, enabling affordable daily health monitoring.