Microwave Antenna Sensing for Glucose Monitoring in a Vein Model Mimicking Human Physiology

Non-invasive glucose monitoring has become a critical area of research for diabetes management, offering a less intrusive and more patient-friendly alternative to traditional methods such as finger-prick tests. This study presents a novel approach using a semi-solid tissue-mimicking phantom designed...

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Main Authors: Youness Zaarour, Fatimazahrae El Arroud, Tomas Fernandez, Juan Luis Cano, Rafiq El Alami, Otman El Mrabet, Abdelouheb Benani, Abdessamad Faik, Hafid Griguer
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:Biosensors
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6374/15/5/282
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author Youness Zaarour
Fatimazahrae El Arroud
Tomas Fernandez
Juan Luis Cano
Rafiq El Alami
Otman El Mrabet
Abdelouheb Benani
Abdessamad Faik
Hafid Griguer
author_facet Youness Zaarour
Fatimazahrae El Arroud
Tomas Fernandez
Juan Luis Cano
Rafiq El Alami
Otman El Mrabet
Abdelouheb Benani
Abdessamad Faik
Hafid Griguer
author_sort Youness Zaarour
collection DOAJ
description Non-invasive glucose monitoring has become a critical area of research for diabetes management, offering a less intrusive and more patient-friendly alternative to traditional methods such as finger-prick tests. This study presents a novel approach using a semi-solid tissue-mimicking phantom designed to replicate the dielectric properties of human skin and blood vessels. The phantom was simplified to focus solely on the skin layer, with embedded channels representing veins to achieve realistic glucose monitoring conditions. These channels were filled with D-(+)-Glucose solutions at varying concentrations (60 mg/dL to 200 mg/dL) to simulate physiological changes in blood glucose levels. A miniature patch antenna optimized to operate at 14 GHz with a penetration depth of approximately 1.5 mm was designed and fabricated. The antenna was tested in direct contact with the skin phantom, allowing for precise measurements of the changes in glucose concentration without interference from deeper tissue layers. Simulations and experiments demonstrated the antenna’s sensitivity to variations in glucose concentration, as evidenced by measurable shifts in the dielectric properties of the phantom. Importantly, the system enabled stationary measurements by injecting glucose solutions into the same blood vessels, eliminating the need to reposition the sensor while ensuring reliable and repeatable results. This work highlights the importance of shallow penetration depth in targeting close vessels for noninvasive glucose monitoring, and emphasizes the potential of microwave-based sensing systems as a practical solution for continuous glucose management.
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spelling doaj-art-c3a4ccf588674f79bb5c27ca4665409b2025-08-20T03:47:48ZengMDPI AGBiosensors2079-63742025-04-0115528210.3390/bios15050282Microwave Antenna Sensing for Glucose Monitoring in a Vein Model Mimicking Human PhysiologyYouness Zaarour0Fatimazahrae El Arroud1Tomas Fernandez2Juan Luis Cano3Rafiq El Alami4Otman El Mrabet5Abdelouheb Benani6Abdessamad Faik7Hafid Griguer8Microwave Energy Sensing (MES), DICE—Digital Innovation Center of Excellence, University of Mohammed VI Polytechnic, Benguerir 43152, MoroccoMicrowave Energy Sensing (MES), DICE—Digital Innovation Center of Excellence, University of Mohammed VI Polytechnic, Benguerir 43152, MoroccoDepartamento de Ingeniería de Comunicaciones, Universidad de Cantabria, 39005 Santander, SpainDepartamento de Ingeniería de Comunicaciones, Universidad de Cantabria, 39005 Santander, SpainMicrowave Energy Sensing (MES), DICE—Digital Innovation Center of Excellence, University of Mohammed VI Polytechnic, Benguerir 43152, MoroccoIntelligent System Design Laboratory (ISD), Faculty of Science, Abdelmalek Essaadi University, Tetuan 93000, MoroccoOncovirology Laboratory, Institut Pasteur du Maroc, 1, Place Louis Pasteur, Casablanca 20360, MoroccoLaboratory for Inorganic Materiels for Sustainable Energy Technologies (LIMSET), University of Mohammed VI Polytechnic, Benguerir 43152, MoroccoMicrowave Energy Sensing (MES), DICE—Digital Innovation Center of Excellence, University of Mohammed VI Polytechnic, Benguerir 43152, MoroccoNon-invasive glucose monitoring has become a critical area of research for diabetes management, offering a less intrusive and more patient-friendly alternative to traditional methods such as finger-prick tests. This study presents a novel approach using a semi-solid tissue-mimicking phantom designed to replicate the dielectric properties of human skin and blood vessels. The phantom was simplified to focus solely on the skin layer, with embedded channels representing veins to achieve realistic glucose monitoring conditions. These channels were filled with D-(+)-Glucose solutions at varying concentrations (60 mg/dL to 200 mg/dL) to simulate physiological changes in blood glucose levels. A miniature patch antenna optimized to operate at 14 GHz with a penetration depth of approximately 1.5 mm was designed and fabricated. The antenna was tested in direct contact with the skin phantom, allowing for precise measurements of the changes in glucose concentration without interference from deeper tissue layers. Simulations and experiments demonstrated the antenna’s sensitivity to variations in glucose concentration, as evidenced by measurable shifts in the dielectric properties of the phantom. Importantly, the system enabled stationary measurements by injecting glucose solutions into the same blood vessels, eliminating the need to reposition the sensor while ensuring reliable and repeatable results. This work highlights the importance of shallow penetration depth in targeting close vessels for noninvasive glucose monitoring, and emphasizes the potential of microwave-based sensing systems as a practical solution for continuous glucose management.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6374/15/5/282tissue-mimicking phantomnon-invasive glucose monitoringveins simulationelectromagnetic sensingminiature patch antenna
spellingShingle Youness Zaarour
Fatimazahrae El Arroud
Tomas Fernandez
Juan Luis Cano
Rafiq El Alami
Otman El Mrabet
Abdelouheb Benani
Abdessamad Faik
Hafid Griguer
Microwave Antenna Sensing for Glucose Monitoring in a Vein Model Mimicking Human Physiology
Biosensors
tissue-mimicking phantom
non-invasive glucose monitoring
veins simulation
electromagnetic sensing
miniature patch antenna
title Microwave Antenna Sensing for Glucose Monitoring in a Vein Model Mimicking Human Physiology
title_full Microwave Antenna Sensing for Glucose Monitoring in a Vein Model Mimicking Human Physiology
title_fullStr Microwave Antenna Sensing for Glucose Monitoring in a Vein Model Mimicking Human Physiology
title_full_unstemmed Microwave Antenna Sensing for Glucose Monitoring in a Vein Model Mimicking Human Physiology
title_short Microwave Antenna Sensing for Glucose Monitoring in a Vein Model Mimicking Human Physiology
title_sort microwave antenna sensing for glucose monitoring in a vein model mimicking human physiology
topic tissue-mimicking phantom
non-invasive glucose monitoring
veins simulation
electromagnetic sensing
miniature patch antenna
url https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6374/15/5/282
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