Non-invasive bio-sensing assisted by quantum technology
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Leeds
Department Name: Chemical and Process Engineering
Abstract
Context of research:
Diabetes currently affects roughly 422 million people worldwide with 1.5 million deaths reported in 2012. Despite its prevalence, current treatments are limited to frequent glucose monitoring and dietary regulation with tightly controlled amounts of insulin to be admitted throughout the day. This means that the more frequently blood glucose is measured, the better it can be managed. Unfortunately, one of the best ways to measure glucose levels is through direct blood testing, which when performed multiple times a day is a painful and inconvenient method of ensuring blood glucose and insulin regulation.
This project in quantum measurement and quantum metrology at the University of Leeds aims at establishing a new sensing device for the detection of blood glucose concentrations through the skin noninvasively. The principle of sensing is established in a previous research and protected by patents. Quantum optical models to enhance the sensitivity and selectivity of the photonic chip based sensor technique and to design the experiments to test these models are the main objectives of this project. I will be working closely with Quantum Physics and Photonics experts in this project. An important part of the project is fabrication of sensor materials which is essentially atomic layers of rare earth ions on a silica glass. I will use anultrafast laser plasma based manufacturing process to achieve this and optimising it for sensing. Moreover, I will try to enhance the performance of the above quantum bio-sensor through photon correlation measurements and to look into further possible applications of the device.
Aims and Objectives:
1. Build preliminary theoretical quantum optic concepts and to compare their predictions with already available experimental data.
2. Refining the initial theoretical models and carry out measurements of second order photon correlation functions to obtain more insight into the mechanisms of the bio-sensor and its performance.
3. Design novel quantum-enhanced biosensing schemes based on photon correlation measurements and apply that for glucose molecules
Potential applications and benefits:
Any improvements in the novel photonic chip based non-invasive glucose sensor will be beneficial to people with diabetes who rely on daily finger pricking. I will be part of a multidisciplinary industry- university team involved in the non-invasive sensor development. Improvements achieved with my research will lead to new product designs for noninvasive glucose sensor that meets both wearable and medical devices market. I will be working closely with School of Medicine and Health as part of my sensor testing strategy development. The research will provide new physics in the areas of light -biomolecule interaction which can be described using quantum optical models. Results of these theoretical research I will aim to publish in top international peer reviewed journals such as Physical Review A/Physical Review Letters. Advanced experimental results on quantum optical sensor will be suitable for publication in journals such Nature Photonics and Journal of Biophotonics after considering IP protection. I am also aiming to present my results are top photonics conferences such as Photonics West, CLEO US/EU. The methodology developed will be applicable sensing many other biomolecules/makers through skin and will have wide reaching healthcare and economic benefits.
Diabetes currently affects roughly 422 million people worldwide with 1.5 million deaths reported in 2012. Despite its prevalence, current treatments are limited to frequent glucose monitoring and dietary regulation with tightly controlled amounts of insulin to be admitted throughout the day. This means that the more frequently blood glucose is measured, the better it can be managed. Unfortunately, one of the best ways to measure glucose levels is through direct blood testing, which when performed multiple times a day is a painful and inconvenient method of ensuring blood glucose and insulin regulation.
This project in quantum measurement and quantum metrology at the University of Leeds aims at establishing a new sensing device for the detection of blood glucose concentrations through the skin noninvasively. The principle of sensing is established in a previous research and protected by patents. Quantum optical models to enhance the sensitivity and selectivity of the photonic chip based sensor technique and to design the experiments to test these models are the main objectives of this project. I will be working closely with Quantum Physics and Photonics experts in this project. An important part of the project is fabrication of sensor materials which is essentially atomic layers of rare earth ions on a silica glass. I will use anultrafast laser plasma based manufacturing process to achieve this and optimising it for sensing. Moreover, I will try to enhance the performance of the above quantum bio-sensor through photon correlation measurements and to look into further possible applications of the device.
Aims and Objectives:
1. Build preliminary theoretical quantum optic concepts and to compare their predictions with already available experimental data.
2. Refining the initial theoretical models and carry out measurements of second order photon correlation functions to obtain more insight into the mechanisms of the bio-sensor and its performance.
3. Design novel quantum-enhanced biosensing schemes based on photon correlation measurements and apply that for glucose molecules
Potential applications and benefits:
Any improvements in the novel photonic chip based non-invasive glucose sensor will be beneficial to people with diabetes who rely on daily finger pricking. I will be part of a multidisciplinary industry- university team involved in the non-invasive sensor development. Improvements achieved with my research will lead to new product designs for noninvasive glucose sensor that meets both wearable and medical devices market. I will be working closely with School of Medicine and Health as part of my sensor testing strategy development. The research will provide new physics in the areas of light -biomolecule interaction which can be described using quantum optical models. Results of these theoretical research I will aim to publish in top international peer reviewed journals such as Physical Review A/Physical Review Letters. Advanced experimental results on quantum optical sensor will be suitable for publication in journals such Nature Photonics and Journal of Biophotonics after considering IP protection. I am also aiming to present my results are top photonics conferences such as Photonics West, CLEO US/EU. The methodology developed will be applicable sensing many other biomolecules/makers through skin and will have wide reaching healthcare and economic benefits.
Organisations
Publications
Al Ghamdi A
(2022)
Remote Non-Invasive Fabry-Pérot Cavity Spectroscopy for Label-Free Sensing.
in Sensors (Basel, Switzerland)
Dawson B
(2021)
The Quantum Optics of Asymmetric Mirrors With Coherent Light Absorption
in Frontiers in Photonics
| Description | Indications of ultralong range interactions between emitting atoms was discovered studying the changes in the photoluminscent behaviour of a target fluorophore. This interaction requires the presence of a tunable asymmetric semi-transparent mirror, which is prepared by nano-engineering the surface of the glass. When this tunable asymmetric semi-transparent mirror is placed between two distant atoms (atom a and b), quantum interference effects between the possible paths of photons emitted from atom a and those emitted from the projected mirror-image of atom b allows a direct interaction to occur between these atoms over a distance larger than is possible with conventional dipole-dipole interactions. The output of this research was generated evidence that indicates the presence of a remote mirror-mediated effect on the photoluminescent system that depends on both the properties of the mirror and the atom/mirror-image atom distance. This has provided further avenues of exploration into the properties asnd behaviour of this interaction, including measuring the second-order correlation function of the interaction and understanding how to measure certain properties of the semi-transparent mirror. Many commonly held assumptions about the nature of light and the properties of optical components may need to be overturned as work in this new and exciting field develops. |
| Exploitation Route | The science and technology beghind this project are the basis for further work with other groups. One such is using fabry-perot cavities to non-invasively measure concentrations of an analyte in a solution. Analytical and technological outputs are being used for a spin-out company specialising in glucose sensing. Developed experimental methodology developed are being used to determine the second-order correlation function and develop new and smaller interferometers. |
| Sectors | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Healthcare,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology,Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology |
| Description | These findings have been used for the generation of newe patents and IP that will go toward a new spinout company specialising in non-invasive glucose sensing. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2022 |
| Sector | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Healthcare,Leisure Activities, including Sports, Recreation and Tourism,Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology |
| Company Name | NIQS TECH (LEEDS) LIMITED |
| Description | NIQS Tech Limited is a quantum technology spin-out from the University of Leeds and was officially incorporated in July 2022. Our patented sensing technology was developed in the leading research groups of Prof. Gin Jose and Dr Almut Beige. Our work represents the next generation of optical sensors that enables real-time, accurate biomarker monitoring, without breaking the skin surface or drawing blood samples. |
| Year Established | 2022 |
| Impact | Rather than using traditional approaches to detecting glucose concentrations in the body which have numerous limiting factors, NIQS is utilising a novel optical appraoch. Using novel interactions known as ultralong-range dipole-dipole interactions. These interactions form our non-invasive sensing mechanism that enable us to perform targeted measurements within the system or sample we wish to investigate. We are able to harness these ultralong-range interactions using our unique sensor design (patent-pending). By performing targeted measurements, it means we are able to mitigate and reduce the effect of skin thickness, skin tone, and hydration levels to effectively provide a more accurate and reliable measurement compared to the spectroscopic approaches. |