title: Feasibility Study on a Microwave-Based Sensor for Measuring Hydration Level Using Human Skin Models.
abstract: Tissue dehydration results in three major types of exsiccosis--hyper-, hypo-, or isonatraemia. All three types entail alterations of salt concentrations leading to impaired biochemical processes, and can finally cause severe morbidity. The aim of our study was to demonstrate the feasibility of a microwave-based sensor technology for the non-invasive measurement of the hydration status. Electromagnetic waves at high frequencies interact with molecules, especially water. Hence, if a sample contains free water molecules, this can be detected in a reflected microwave signal. To develop the sensor system, human three-dimensional skin equivalents were instituted as a standardized test platform mimicking reproducible exsiccosis scenarios. Therefore, skin equivalents with a specific hydration and density of matrix components were generated and microwave measurements were performed. Hydration-specific spectra allowed deriving the hydration state of the skin models. A further advantage of the skin equivalents was the characterization of the impact of distinct skin components on the measured signals to investigate mechanisms of signal generation. The results demonstrate the feasibility of a non-invasive microwave-based hydration sensor technology. The sensor bears potential to be integrated in a wearable medical device for personal health monitoring.
authors.affiliation: Chair Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine (TERM), University Hospital Wuerzburg, Roentgenring 11, 97070, Wuerzburg, Germany.|senetics healthcare group GmbH & Co. KG, Henkestrasse 91, 91052, Erlangen, Germany.
authors.forename: Rico
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Brendtke
authors.affiliation: senetics healthcare group GmbH & Co. KG, Henkestrasse 91, 91052, Erlangen, Germany.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wiehl
authors.affiliation: Translational Center in oncology Wuerzburg ´Regenerative therapies and musculoskeletal diseases` Wuerzburg, Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology (IGB), Roentgenring 11, 97070, Wuerzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Florian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Groeber
authors.affiliation: Translational Center in oncology Wuerzburg ´Regenerative therapies and musculoskeletal diseases` Wuerzburg, Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology (IGB), Roentgenring 11, 97070, Wuerzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Schwarz
authors.affiliation: Chair Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine (TERM), University Hospital Wuerzburg, Roentgenring 11, 97070, Wuerzburg, Germany.|Translational Center in oncology Wuerzburg ´Regenerative therapies and musculoskeletal diseases` Wuerzburg, Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology (IGB), Roentgenring 11, 97070, Wuerzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Heike
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Walles
authors.affiliation: Chair Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine (TERM), University Hospital Wuerzburg, Roentgenring 11, 97070, Wuerzburg, Germany.|Translational Center in oncology Wuerzburg ´Regenerative therapies and musculoskeletal diseases` Wuerzburg, Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology (IGB), Roentgenring 11, 97070, Wuerzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hansmann
mesh_terms: D005240:Feasibility Studies; D006801:Humans; D008872:Microwaves; D008954:Models, Biological; D012867:Skin / Q000737:chemistry*; D014867:Water / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D014867:Water