Plasmonic refractive index sensing in the early diagnosis of diabetes, anemia, and cancer: An exploration of biological biomarkers

This article presents a novel refractive index nanosensor based on a metal–insulator–metal (MIM) waveguide that incorporates a silver nanorod embedded in a rectangular resonator with two baffles. The suggested sensor has great potential in the medical field for early disease diagnosis and research, as it can detect and identify many biological components by using the interdependence between the refractive index and the resulting change in the resonant wavelength. To perform the numerical calculation, the finite element method has been utilized. The maximum sensitivity of the sensor is recorded as 2963.73 nm per refractive index unit (RIU), with a figure of merit (FOM) and sensing resolution of 25.1 and 3.37×10−7 RIU, respectively. The high sensitivity and precision of the sensor make it capable of detecting glucose concentration and distinguishing between different degrees of diabetes. Additionally, the sensor can measure hemoglobin concentration, which is useful in classifying anemia into different categories. This information can be a vital factor in identifying the severity level of anemia and taking appropriate measures. The sensor’s high performance facilitates the differentiation of healthy cells from cancerous ones, making it an essential tool for the early detection of cancer. Furthermore, the sensor has the potential to identify biological components in the brain and blood, which may pave the way for future research and development in the field of medicine. •A highly sensitive plasmonic sensor with a maximum sensitivity of 2963.73 nm/RIU.•Stronger evanescent field and enhanced light–matter interaction using baffles and nanorod.•A reliable method for measuring glucose levels in the blood, which can be extended to determine the level of diabetes.•A novel approach to identifying cancer cells and anemia stages based on refractive index.