Optical biosensors for diabetes management: Advancing into stimuli-responsive sensing mechanisms

Diabetes is one of the most common chronic diseases that contribute significantly to global mortality. Effective glucose-sensing platforms might allow for an improved monitoring of disease progression, leading to a better health management. Optical sensors based on smart materials, particularly those that respond to external stimuli, have recently paved the way for diabetes management. Such sensors surpass traditional ones due to their unique label-free, quantitative, continuous measurement capabilities and reusability, and can be paired with equipment-free text or picture display. In the current review, we have thoroughly explored the efficient interaction of the target analyte (glucose) with these smart sensing materials by varying a variety of optical parameters such as wavelength, diffracted and diffused light pattern, signal strength, and refractive index. We also highlight the obstacles and opportunities of using smart materials in biosensing research.