Single-wavelength water muted photoacoustic system for detecting physiological concentrations of endogenous molecules

• Published in: Biomedical optics express Vol. 12; no. 1; pp. 666 - 675
• Main Authors: Xu, Chao, Rassel, Shazzad, Zhang, Steven, Aloraynan, Abdulrahman, Ban, Dayan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Optical Society of America 01.01.2021
• ISSN: 2156-7085; 2156-7085
• DOI: 10.1364/BOE.413086

Based on the breakthrough technology of water muting on photoacoustic spectroscopy, a single wavelength photoacoustic system in the short-wavelength-infrared (SWIR) region was developed to sense the endogenous molecules (e.g. glucose, lactate, triglyceride, and serum albumin found in blood and interstitial fluid) in aqueous media. The system implemented a robust photoacoustic resonant cell that can significantly enhance the signal-to-noise ratio of the acoustic waves. The sensitivity of the system was explored, and the experimental results exhibit a precision detection of physiological concentrations of biomolecules by combining the techniques of water muting and photoacoustic resonant amplification in a portable and low-cost single wavelength laser system.