A Novel C-Grooved SPR PCF Biosensor for Early Detection of Malaria Using Fuzzy Logic

Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) technology has become increasingly vital in fields such as biotechnology, environmental monitoring, and medical diagnostics due to its high sensitivity and real-time detection capabilities. This work proposes a novel C-grooved SPR photonic crystal fiber (PCF) sensor designed for the early detection of malaria, utilizing fuzzy logic to enhance selectivity. The C-grooved design enhances SPR effectiveness and increases sensitivity to variations in refractive index (RI). The sensor operates within a RI range of 1.30 to 1.42 and achieves impressive amplitude sensitivities (AS) of 1050, 1182, and 1704 RIU-¹ for the ring phase (RP), trophozoite phase (TP), and schizont phase (SP) of malaria, respectively. The WS values for the RP, TP, and SP are 4,500 nm/RIU, 10,200 nm/RIU, and 13,800 nm/RIU, respectively. The model is constructed using COMSOL Multiphysics, featuring a unique structure that incorporates two C-shaped grooves and a combination of gold and titanium dioxide layers to optimize surface plasmon coupling. Performance evaluation reveals significant wavelength sensitivity(WS), with a maximum WS of 15,300 nm/RIU for RIs up to 1.41. Additionally, the proposed sensor demonstrates a capacity to differentiate between healthy red blood cells and infected cells at various developmental stages, addressing the limitations of traditional diagnostic methods. The integration of fuzzy logic allows for improved data classification and interpretation, making this biosensor a promising tool for efficient malaria diagnosis.