Synergistic Optimization Strategy for High-Performance Multilayer SPR Biosensor Dramatically Boosts Sensitivity for Urinary Glucose Detection in Diabetes Diagnosis

Optica Publishing Group USA

Overview

This study proposes a highly sensitive Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) biosensor with a ZnO/Au/Ag/Si/WSe2 multilayer configuration for urinary glucose detection in diabetes diagnosis. Simulation results indicate a significant improvement in sensitivity, Figure of Merit (FOM), and Detection Figure of Merit (DFOM) compared to conventional Cr/Au-based SPR sensors. This innovative design demonstrates substantial application potential in non-invasive diabetes diagnosis, early cancer detection, food safety inspection, and environmental sensing, dramatically elevating next-generation biosensor performance.

In Depth

Key Findings

An innovative highly sensitive Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) biosensor, featuring a ZnO/Au/Ag/Si/WSe2 multilayer configuration, has been developed for the detection of urinary glucose in diabetes diagnosis. According to simulation results, this new multilayer SPR biosensor achieves significant improvements in sensitivity, Figure of Merit (FOM), and Detection Figure of Merit (DFOM) compared to conventional Cr/Au-based SPR sensors. The superior performance, realized through this synergistic optimization strategy, greatly expands the application potential for next-generation biosensors across diverse fields, including non-invasive diabetes diagnosis, early cancer detection, food safety inspection, and environmental sensing.

Technical/Clinical Details

The proposed SPR biosensor features a structure with multiple thin film layers stacked on an optical substrate. ZnO (zinc oxide), Au (gold), Ag (silver), Si (silicon), and WSe2 (tungsten diselenide) are arranged in a specific sequence and thickness on the substrate, maximizing their synergistic effects. Particularly, the plasmonically active layers of Au and Ag strongly induce the SPR effect, amplifying the interaction between light and matter. WSe2, due to its excellent optical and electrical properties, functions as a sensing layer, enhancing the interaction with the detected glucose molecules. Simulations showed that this multilayer structure produces sharper resonance peaks and larger angular shifts (indicating higher sensitivity) compared to conventional single-layer metal plasmon structures. Glucose in urine is recognized by enzymes like glucose oxidase immobilized on the sensor surface; its binding alters the SPR resonance conditions, which is then optically detected. This non-invasive, high-sensitivity detection from urine samples reduces patient burden associated with blood draws and enables simpler screening and monitoring.

Background and Industry Context

Diabetes is a chronic disease with increasing global prevalence, making early diagnosis and continuous monitoring essential. However, current blood glucose monitoring primarily relies on invasive blood draws or finger-prick tests, imposing physical and psychological burdens on patients. Urinary glucose detection is a promising non-invasive alternative, but requires highly sensitive sensors for accurate detection at low concentrations. SPR technology is widely studied in the biosensor field for its advantages of label-free, real-time, and high-sensitivity detection, but further performance enhancement required innovations in new materials and structural design. The combination of 2D materials and semiconductor materials like ZnO and WSe2 with metallic plasmonic layers has been shown to dramatically improve the detection limit and sensitivity of SPR sensors, indicating a new direction for research in this field.

Strategic Significance & Outlook

The advancement of this multilayer SPR biosensor technology has the potential to revolutionize non-invasive diabetes diagnosis. In the future, this platform could be applied to detect other disease biomarkers in urine (e.g., markers for early cancer or kidney disease), contributing to widespread disease screening and monitoring. Furthermore, practical applications are anticipated in diverse fields, such as detecting harmful substances in food safety inspections and monitoring trace environmental pollutants. As sensors become smaller and more portable, their adoption as home healthcare devices and point-of-care diagnostic tools will accelerate. This research represents a significant step towards developing next-generation high-performance biosensors, promising safer and more convenient diagnostic technologies.

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