Rapid Determination of Rivaroxaban by Using Terahertz Metamaterial Biosensor

Rivaroxaban, a direct oral anticoagulant, is widely used in the management and prevention of thrombotic conditions. Dose adjustments are necessary to optimize efficacy based on individual physiological differences. However, current analytical methods are impractical for clinical use due to complex sample preparation and lengthy detection times. This paper presents a terahertz (THz) metamaterial biosensor for the rapid determination of rivaroxaban within 10–15 min. The THz absorption peaks of rivaroxaban were first identified based on THz spectroscopy. Subsequently, a metamaterial structure with rotational symmetry was designed to resonate at the absorption peaks of rivaroxaban. Theoretical simulations and experimental measurements analyzed changes of the resonance peak at different rivaroxaban concentrations, including frequency shifts and amplitude variations. Based on these changes, rivaroxaban concentration can be quantified with the limits of detection (LODs) of 5.01 μmol/mL for peak shift and 1.067 μmol/mL for peak absorbance, respectively. This study presents a novel approach for the rapid determination of rivaroxaban, providing potential improvements in therapeutic drug monitoring and personalized medical treatment.