Optical glucose sensing in biological fluids: an overview

Recent technological advancements in the photonics industry have led to a r esurgence of interest in optical glucose sensing and to realistic progress toward the development of an optical glucose sensor. Such a sensor has the potential to significantly improve the quality of life for the estimated 16 million diabetics in this country by making routine glucose measurements m ore convenient. Currently over 100 small companies and universities are wor king to develop noninvasive or minimally invasive glucose sensing technolog ies, and optical methods play a large role in these efforts. This article r eviews many of the recent advances in optical glucose sensing including opt ical absorption spectroscopy, polarimetry, Raman spectroscopy, and fluoresc ent glucose sensing. In addition a review of calibration and data processin g methods useful for optical techniques is presented. (C) 2000 Society of P hoto-Optical Instrumentation Engineers. [S1083-3668(00)01401-5].