Ultra-wideband electromagnetic detection of biological cells

Abstract

Traditionally, electromagnetic detection of biological cells was conducted at either radio or microwave frequencies, which was sensitive to either cellular or subcellular properties, respectively. This paper reports for the first time a single sweep from megahertz to gigahertz frequencies so that cell viability, membrane capacitance, cytoplasm resistance, and cytoplasm capacitance could be determined simultaneously. These parameters were determined with the aid of simple cell model and equivalent circuit, despite great challenges in ultra-wideband measurement and analysis. Although the extracted parameter values for Jurkat T-lymphocytes human cells, live or dead, were consistent with that reported in the literature, more careful measurement and analysis are required in the future, especially for electromagnetic detection over an even wider bandwidth. In any case, the present analysis confirmed that it was easier to assess cell viability around 100 MHz but cytoplasm characteristics around 10 GHz.