Development of agar-based biodegradable optical fibers for sensing

• Grant number: 23/09181-0
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: November 01, 2023
• End date: April 30, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Mechanical Engineering
• Principal Investigator: Eric Fujiwara
• Grantee: Eric Fujiwara
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Engenharia Mecânica (FEM). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• City of the host institution: Campinas
• Associated researchers: Cristiano Monteiro de Barros Cordeiro
• Associated scholarship(s): 25/05189-1 - Soft minirobots based on biodegradable optical devices, BP.IC

Abstract

Biocompatible and bioresorbable photonic devices are crucial for in vivo applications regarding medicine, optogenetics, and environmental surveillance. Apart from widespread biopolymers and hydrogels, agar features as a versatile, edible, transparent, thermoreversible, renewable, and low-cost material. However, despite its usage in culture media and tissue engineering, few works explored the agar capabilities to manufacture photonic devices. Therefore, this proposal aims to develop novel agar-based optical fibers for sensing. Firstly, we will fabricate structured multimode fibers with different chemical compositions and molded into several geometries to tailor their optical and mechanical properties. Subsequently, fiber specklegram sensors comprising image processing and machine learning-based interrogation systems will explore the agar waveguide response to external stimuli for assessing physical and biochemical parameters, such as strain, temperature, electric current, humidity, concentration, and biological activity. This proposal contributes to the development of novel biocompatible devices, providing technological advances to the areas of photonics, instrumentation, materials science, and medicine. Besides, publications involving international cooperation will disseminate the results and establish new multidisciplinary topics that integrate education and research activities. (AU)

Scientific publications

(14)

(The scientific publications listed on this page originate from the Web of Science or SciELO databases. Their authors have cited FAPESP grant or fellowship project numbers awarded to Principal Investigators or Fellowship Recipients, whether or not they are among the authors. This information is collected automatically and retrieved directly from those bibliometric databases.)

FUJIWARA, ERIC; BALBINO, VINICIUS G.; FERMAN, VICTOR; FAJARDO, JULIO; ROHMER, ERIC. Optical fiber force myography sensor for assessing lower limb movements. SPIE FUTURE SENSING TECHNOLOGIES 2024, v. 13083, p. 5-pg., 2024-01-01. (23/09181-0)

FUJIWARA, ERIC. Biocompatible Artificial Skin with an Embedded Optical Fiber Specklegram Sensor. 2024 IEEE SENSORS, v. N/A, p. 4-pg., 2024-01-01. (23/09181-0)

ROSA, LIDIA O.; CORDEIRO, CRISTIANO M. B.; FUJIWARA, ERIC. All-biodegradable agar-core, agar-cladding optical fiber. 2024 SBFOTON INTERNATIONAL OPTICS AND PHOTONICS CONFERENCE, SBFOTON IOPC 2024, v. N/A, p. 3-pg., 2024-01-01. (23/09181-0)

GONCALVES JUNIOR, SINEI FELIX; ROSA, LIDIA O.; MARQUES, FLAVIO A. M.; COTTA, ALEXANDRE A. C.; TSUCHIDA, JEFFERSON E.; FUJIWARA, ERIC; CORDEIRO, CRISTIANO M. B.; OSORIO, JONAS H.. Refractometry with filled antiresonant capillary fibers. MEASUREMENT SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY, v. 37, n. 1, p. 9-pg., 2026-01-09. (23/09181-0, 24/00998-6, 24/02995-4)

FUJIWARA, ERIC. Multidomain Systems Modeling With SPICE: Equivalent Circuit and Bond Graph Approaches. IEEE REVISTA IBEROAMERICANA DE TECNOLOGIAS DEL APRENDIZAJE-IEEE RITA, v. 20, p. 8-pg., 2025-01-01. (23/09181-0)

CORDEIRO, CRISTIANO M. B.; OSORIO, JONAS H.; FUJIWARA, ERIC. Innovative platforms for optical sensing: hollow-core and biodegradable optical fibers. 29TH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON OPTICAL FIBER SENSORS, v. 13639, p. 4-pg., 2025-01-01. (24/02995-4, 23/09181-0)

ROSA, LIDIA O.; MORAIS, EDUARDA F.; CORDEIRO, CRISTIANO M. B.; FUJIWARA, ERIC. Agar-made biodegradable ball lens. APPLIED OPTICS, v. 63, n. 30, p. 6-pg., 2024-10-30. (23/09181-0)

FUJIWARA, ERIC. Optical fiber tactile sensor with bioinspired whisker transducer. SPIE FUTURE SENSING TECHNOLOGIES 2024, v. 13083, p. 5-pg., 2024-01-01. (23/09181-0)

ROSA, LIDIA O.; CORDEIRO, CRISTIANO M. B.; FUJIWARA, ERIC. Salt-Doped Agar-Based Optical Fibers for Electric Current Sensing. 2024 LATIN AMERICAN WORKSHOP ON OPTICAL FIBER SENSORS, LAWOFS 2024, v. N/A, p. 2-pg., 2024-01-01. (23/09181-0)

WU, YU TZU; FUJIWARA, ERIC. Keyboard-type optical fiber musical interface. Optical Engineering, v. 63, n. 1, p. 12-pg., 2024-01-01. (23/09181-0)

FUJIWARA, ERIC. Optical Fiber Tactile Sensor Based on a Biocompatible Whisker-Inspired Transducer. IEEE SENSORS JOURNAL, v. 24, n. 20, p. 8-pg., 2024-10-15. (23/09181-0)

FUJIWARA, ERIC; ROSA, LIDIA O.; OLIVEIRA, FRANCISCA I. S.; GUIMARAES, VICTOR A. V.; CORDEIRO, CRISTIANO M. B.. Optical fiber-based sensing platform with integrated biodegradable agar-structured transducer. 29TH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON OPTICAL FIBER SENSORS, v. 13639, p. 4-pg., 2025-01-01. (23/09181-0)

FUJIWARA, ERIC; DE MENEZES, EDUARDO A. W.; ANDRAE, JONATHAN; LISBOA, TALES V.; SPICKENHEUER, AXEL; AMICO, SANDRO C.; CORDEIRO, CRISTIANO M. B.. Mechanical measurements in filament-wound composite cylinders by optical fiber specklegram sensor. 29TH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON OPTICAL FIBER SENSORS, v. 13639, p. 4-pg., 2025-01-01. (23/09181-0)

FUJIWARA, ERIC; HARADA, KENTARO; KOYAMA, YUYA. Hetero-core optical fiber-based force myography sensor. 29TH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON OPTICAL FIBER SENSORS, v. 13639, p. 4-pg., 2025-01-01. (23/09181-0)