The present invention concerns an improved optical method and optical sensing device for determining the levels of polyhydroxyl-substituted organic molecules in vitro and/or in vivo in aqueous media. The range of detection is between about 400 and 800 nm. In particular, a sensory devise is implemented in a mammal to determine sugar levels. Specifically, a dye is combined with a conjugated nitrogen-containing heterocyclic aromatic boronic acid-substituted bis-onium compound in the presence of a sugar, such as fructose or glucose. The viologens are preferred as the aromatic conjugated nitrogen-containing boronic acid substituted compounds. The method is useful to determine sugar levels in a human being.
RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 10/456,895, filed Jun. 5, 2003, which is a continuation-in-part of prior U.S. application Ser. No. 09/731,323, filed Dec. 5, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,627,177, issued Sep. 30, 2003, which preceding applications are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.
