Left-Handed Metamaterial-Inspired Unit Cell for S-Band Glucose Sensing Application

This paper presents an oval-shaped sensor design for the measurement of glucose concentration in aqueous solution. This unit cell sensing device is inspired by metamaterial properties and is analytically described for better parametric study. The mechanism of the sensor is a sensing layer with varying permittivity placed between two nozzle-shaped microstrip lines. Glucose aqueous solutions were characterized considering the water dielectric constant, from 55 to 87, and were identified with a transmission coefficient at 3.914 GHz optimal frequency with double negative (DNG) metamaterial properties. Consequently, the sensitivity of the sensor was estimated at 0.037 GHz/(30 mg/dL) glucose solution. The design and analysis of this sensor was performed using the finite integration technique (FIT)-based Computer Simulation Technology (CST) microwave studio simulation software. Additionally, parametric analysis of the sensing characteristics was conducted using experimental verification for the justification. The performance of the proposed sensor demonstrates the potential application scope for glucose level identification in aqueous solutions regarding qualitative analysis.