Author(s): Fang, WH (Fang, Weihao); Lv, XQ (Lv, Xiaoqing); Ma, ZT (Ma, Zhengtai); Liu, J (Liu, Jian); Pei, WH (Pei, Weihua); Geng, ZX (Geng, Zhaoxin)

Source: MICROMACHINES Volume: 13 Issue: 4 Article Number: 631 DOI: 10.3390/mi13040631 Published: APR 2022

Abstract: Metamaterial biosensors have been extensively used to identify cell types and detect concentrations of tumor biomarkers. However, the methods for in situ and non-destruction measurement of cell migration, which plays a key role in tumor progression and metastasis, are highly desirable. Therefore, a flexible terahertz metamaterial biosensor based on parylene C substrate was proposed for label-free and non-destructive detection of breast cancer cell growth and migration. The maximum resonance peak frequency shift achieved 183.2 GHz when breast cancer cell MDA-MB-231 was cultured onto the surface of the metamaterial biosensor for 72 h. A designed polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) barrier sheet was applied to detect the cell growth rate which was quantified as 14.9 mu m/h. The experimental peak shift expressed a linear relationship with the covered area and a quadratic relationship with the distance, which was consistent with simulation results. Additionally, the cell migration indicated that the transform growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) promoted the cancer cell migration. The terahertz metamaterial biosensor shows great potential for the investigation of cell biology in the future.

Accession Number: WOS:000787930200001

PubMed ID: 35457933

eISSN: 2072-666X

Full Text: https://www.mdpi.com/2072-666X/13/4/631