Sensing minute changes in biological cell monolayers with THz differential time-domain spectroscopy
Date
2007
Authors
Liu, H.
Plopper, G.
Earley, S.
Chen, Y.
Ferguson, B.
Zhang, X.
Editors
Advisors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Type:
Journal article
Citation
Biosensors and Bioelectronics, 2007; 22(6):1075-1080
Statement of Responsibility
Hai-Bo Liu, George Plopper, Sarah Earley, Yunqing Chen, Bradley Ferguson, and X.-C. Zhang
Conference Name
Abstract
We used terahertz differential time-domain spectroscopy (THz-DTDS) to measure minute changes of bovine lung microvessel endothelial cells (BLMVEC) in response to vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). These changes were reflected by alterations in THz wave attenuations and THz dielectric properties of the treated cells. The VEGF-induced THz attenuations of cell monolayers correlated well with changes in transendothelial resistance, as measured using electric cell-substrate impedance sensing (ECIS). However, the morphological differences that gave rise to these changes were not observed with standard optical phase contrast microscopy. We conclude that THz-DTDS is a highly sensitive, non-invasive, powerful new tool to measure minute changes in the morphology of live, cultured cell monolayers. This method enables spectroscopic investigations of cells in the THz band, providing information unavailable through other conventional methods such as optical phase contrast microscopy and ECIS.