Experimental validation of an optical system for interrogation of dermally-implanted microparticle sensors

Dermally-implanted microparticle sensors are being developed for on-demand monitoring of blood sugar levels. For these to be deployed in vivo, a matched optoelectronic system for delivery of excitation, collection and analysis of escaping fluorescent signal is needed. Previous studies predicted the characteristics of fluorescence from microparticle sensors to facilitate design of hardware system. Based on the results of simulations, we designed and constructed the optical part of this opto-electronic system. This study experimentally verified the simulation results and tested the capability of the designed optical system. Reliable skin phantoms sufficient for future dynamic tests were developed. Skin phantoms with different thicknesses were made and the optical properties of skin phantoms were determined with an integrating sphere system and Inverse Adding-Doubling method. Measurements of sensor emission spectrum through phantoms with different thicknesses were done with the designed optical system. Simulations for the experiment situation were performed. The experimental measurements agreed well with simulations in most cases. The results of hardware experiment and validation with skin phantoms provided us with critical information for future dynamic tests and animal experiments.