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Application and Development of Antennas and Sensors in Biomedical Applications

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A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Biomedical Engineering".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 August 2026 | Viewed by 12550

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Iman Farhat

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Guest Editor

Department of Physics, University of Malta, MSD 2080 Msida, Malta
Interests: antenna design and applications; sensors; dielectric spectroscopy; microwave hyperthermia and imaging

Dr. Lourdes Farrugia

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Guest Editor

Department of Physics, University of Malta, MSD 2080 Msida, Malta
Interests: instrumentation and measurement of physical quantities; especially sensor design; applied electromagnetics (in particular, dielectric properties of biological tissue)

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue aims to underscore the latest advancements in the development and application of antennas and sensors in the biomedical field. Subjects that will be addressed span over a wide range of their medical applications, such as imaging, therapeutic interventions, and health monitoring, leveraging the interaction of electromagnetic waves with biological tissues. Contributions that highlight experimental research, clinical trials, and computational modeling studies are highly encouraged.

Dr. Iman Farhat
Dr. Lourdes Farrugia
Guest Editors

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Keywords

biomedical antennas
hyperthermia and ablation
biomedical sensors
microwave imaging and diagnostics
artificial intelligence in biomedical sensing
machine learning for health monitoring
computational modeling in biomedical applications
wearable sensors
implantable sensors

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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20 pages, 3908 KB

Open AccessArticle

A Novel Microstrip Band-Stop Filter at 5.5 GHz for Non-Invasive Blood Glucose Monitoring

by Anveshkumar Nella, Rabah W. Aldhaheri, Jagadeesh Babu Kamili and Ahmad A. Jiman

Appl. Sci. 2026, 16(7), 3197; https://doi.org/10.3390/app16073197 - 26 Mar 2026

Viewed by 353

Abstract

This work presents a novel compact size and sensitive band-stop filter, whose notch frequency is 5.5 GHz, and it is suggested to estimate the concentration of blood glucose non-invasively. The filter is made on FR-4, with the size of the entire structure being 15 mm × 25 mm × 1.6 mm. A human finger-phantom model, comprising layers of skin, fat, blood, and bone, is built in an EM simulation environment (HFSS) to assess the sensing performance of the human finger-phantom. The glucose content in the blood layer is kept at a range of 0 to 500 mg/dL, with the ratio of the resonant frequency shift being assessed by placing the finger phantom on the proposed filter structure. The sensing principle is based on the fact that the resonant frequency of the microwave sensor changes with changes in glucose concentration in the tissue, and this is due to the changes in the dielectric properties of the tissue. The shifts obtained in the study are used for the evaluation of glucose concentration in blood as a non-invasive technique. This work explores five microstrip band-stop filters noted as Designs I, II, III, IV, and V. In these filters, better results of minimum and maximum frequency shifts of 0.1 and 1.4 MHz in Design I and 0.1 and 2 MHz in Design IV are observed. The simulated results of Design IV are verified with measured results. Good matching is also noted at the lower frequencies. The filters are compact, cost-effective, and give better sensitivity performance. Hence, the proposed design can be used for glucose monitoring in blood samples involving a non-invasive method. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application and Development of Antennas and Sensors in Biomedical Applications)

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19 pages, 14753 KB

Open AccessArticle

Detection of Melatonin with Sensors Modified Using Different Graphene-Based Materials

by Andra Georgiana Trifan and Constantin Apetrei

Appl. Sci. 2026, 16(2), 924; https://doi.org/10.3390/app16020924 - 16 Jan 2026

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 546

Abstract

This study includes a comparative analysis of four graphene-based electrochemical sensors used for the detection of melatonin, an endogenous hormone involved in circadian rhythm regulation and associated with various neurological pathologies. The sensors were based on screen-printed electrodes (SPE) modified with graphene (G), graphene modified with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs/G), graphene oxide (GO), and reduced graphene oxide (rGO). Melatonin was extracted from commercially available pharmaceutical products, purified, and characterized using UV-Vis spectroscopy, FTIR spectrometry, and HPLC. The performance of the electrodes was evaluated via cyclic voltammetry, using potassium ferrocyanide and standard melatonin solutions to determine the kinetic characteristics, while square-wave voltammetry was employed to determine the detection and quantification limits. G/SPE showed the best performance, with a detection limit of 0.3424 μM, followed by AuNPs/G/SPE with an LOD of 1.2768 μM. GO/SPE had the poorest performance (LOD 23.1056 μM), and rGO/SPE had an LOD of 5.8503 μM. Testing of sensors on pharmaceuticals showed accurate quantification of melatonin in a complex environment. The results highlight the potential of G/SPE and AuNPs/G/SPE sensors for use in the rapid and accurate detection of melatonin in pharmaceutical and biomedical applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application and Development of Antennas and Sensors in Biomedical Applications)

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19 pages, 5688 KB

Open AccessArticle

Detection of Brain Tumors Using UWB Antennas in a High-Fidelity Phantom Model

by Luis E. Román, Alberto Reyna, Luz I. Balderas and Marco A. Panduro

Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(22), 12275; https://doi.org/10.3390/app152212275 - 19 Nov 2025

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 923

Abstract

This research presents an ultra-wideband antenna array for the non-invasive early detection of brain tumors. The primary objective of this work is to evaluate the detection capabilities of a proposed Vivaldi antenna array system for identifying small and multiple brain tumors under various simulated biological conditions. The core of the system is a Vivaldi-type antenna operating from 2.4 to 17.7 GHz, configured in both two- and four-antenna arrays. A high-fidelity, seven-layer phantom model was developed to replicate brain tissue, with each layer assigned specific electromagnetic properties (relative permittivity, tangential loss) and physical thickness. The study rigorously analyzes the system’s performance in detecting tumors across diverse scenarios, including variations in phantom complexity, tumor size, permittivity, and the number of present tumors. Using the Delay and Sum algorithm for image reconstruction, the results demonstrate the system’s feasibility in detecting tumors as small as 0.625 mm in diameter. This underscores the significant potential of the proposed design as a powerful tool for non-invasive medical diagnostics. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application and Development of Antennas and Sensors in Biomedical Applications)

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16 pages, 3899 KB

Open AccessArticle

Uncooled Insulated Monopole Antenna for Microwave Ablation: Improved Performance with Coaxial Cable Annealing

by Federico Cilia, Lourdes Farrugia, Charles Sammut, Arif Rochman, Julian Bonello, Iman Farhat and Evan Joe Dimech

Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(12), 6616; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15126616 - 12 Jun 2025

Viewed by 1064

Abstract

There is growing interest in measuring the temperature-dependent dielectric properties of bio-tissues using dual-mode techniques (scattering measurements and thermal treatment). Uncooled coaxial antennas are preferred for their direct contact with the measured medium and reduced complexity; however, they exhibit structural changes during ablation due to the thermal expansion of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). This paper presents an experimental study on PTFE expansion in an uncooled coaxial insulated monopole antenna in response to changes in the tissue’s thermal environment. Furthermore, it presents a methodology to mitigate these effects through coaxial annealing. The investigation consists of two distinct experiments: characterising PTFE expansion and assessing the effects of annealing through microwave ablation. This was achieved by simulating the thermal effects experienced during ablation by immersing the test antenna in heated peanut oil. PTFE expansion was measured through camera monitoring and using a toolmaker’s microscope, revealing two expansion modalities: linear PTFE expansion and non-linear plastic deformation from manufacturing processes. The return loss during ablation and consequential changes in the ablated lesion were also assessed. Antenna pre-annealing increased resilience against structural changes in the antenna, improving lesion ellipticity. Therefore, this study establishes a fabrication method for achieving an uncooled thermally stable antenna, leading to an optimised dual-mode ablation procedure, enabling quasi-real-time permittivity measurement of the surrounding tissue. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application and Development of Antennas and Sensors in Biomedical Applications)

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Review

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38 pages, 2149 KB

Open AccessReview

Implantable Medical Electronic Devices: Sensing Mechanisms, Communication Methods, and the Biodegradable Future

by Zhengdao Chu, Yukai Zhou, Saite Li, Qiaosheng Xu and Lijia Pan

Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(13), 7599; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15137599 - 7 Jul 2025

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 8923

Abstract

In the context of the relentless pursuit of precision, intelligence, and personalization within the realm of medical technology, the real-time monitoring of human physiological signals has assumed heightened significance. Implantable wireless sensor devices have exhibited extraordinary capabilities in tracking internal physiological parameters, including intraocular pressure, blood glucose levels, electrocardiographic activity, and arterial blood pressure. These devices are characterized by elevated temporal continuity and exceptional measurement accuracy. This paper undertakes an in-depth investigation into the key technologies underlying biodegradable implantable sensing devices. Initially, it expounds on diverse sensing mechanisms employed in implantable devices. Additionally, it presents common data transmission and power supply strategies for wireless sensing systems. Finally, it introduces biodegradable materials suitable for human implantation and their respective application domains and enumerates several implantable devices that are either under development or have already been commercialized. Through an in-depth and comprehensive discourse on the current state of development and extant challenges in this domain, the development trajectory of biodegradable devices is put forward. Moreover, this paper also serves as a valuable reference for the design and selection of implantable medical devices. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application and Development of Antennas and Sensors in Biomedical Applications)

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