Label‐free detection of living cervical cells based on microfluidic device with terahertz spectroscopy
Xiaoyue Yang, Mei Li, Qi Peng, Jian Huang, Lifen Liu, Ping Li, Chenggan Shu, Xing Hu, Jie Fang, Fei Ye, Weipei Zhu
Abstract
Early diagnosis of cervical cancer is essential for a good prognosis. Terahertz wave detection technology is a nondestructive and label-free physical detection technology, which can detect and monitor the cancer cells in real time, especially for patients with deep or inaccessible tumors. In this study, a single-cell-layer microfluidic device was developed. After replacing the optical clearing agent, the characteristics of H8, HeLa and SiHa cell lines in adherent and suspended states were detected. Additionally, the absorption increased with increasing cell density. For the mixed suspension cell samples, principal component analysis-support vector machine method was used to identify benign and malignant cell component. After living cells formaldehyde, changes in cell membrane permeability were evaluated to identify the cell survival status (i.e., dead or living) based on terahertz spectroscopy amplitude differences. Therefore, extending the terahertz spectrum detection to the molecular level can characterize the life essence of cells and tissues.