Potential glucose monitoring of blood plasma using hollow core photonic crystal fibre

Abstract

The ratio (ζ) of surface tension to viscosity of liquids can be determined using hollow core photonic crystal fibres (HCPCF), and we show here techniques to determine ζ of glucose levels within fluids, of nano-litre quantities. We demonstrate an optically integrated micro-capillary viscometer, to determine the concentrations of nano-litre solutions based on properties of their flow within HC-PCF. The filling of the fibres with liquids within a given range of refractive index will induce a shift in the photonic band gap of the fibre, allowing guidance of light at wavelengths that were originally outside the bandgap of the HC-PCF.