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Nourinovin S, Rahman MM, Naftaly M, Philpott MP, Abbasi QH, Alomainy A. Highly Sensitive Terahertz Metasurface Based on Electromagnetically Induced Transparency-Like Resonance in Detection of Skin Cancer Cells. IEEE Trans Biomed Eng 2024; 71:2180-2188. [PMID: 38335072 DOI: 10.1109/tbme.2024.3364386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
Terahertz (THz) metasurfaces based on high Q-factor electromagnetically induced transparency-like (EIT-like) resonances are promising for biological sensing. Despite this potential, they have not often been investigated for practical differentiation between cancerous and healthy cells. The present methodology relies mainly on refractive index sensing, while factors of transmission magnitude and Q-factor offer significant information about the tumors. To address this limitation and improve sensitivity, we fabricated a THz EIT-like metasurface based on asymmetric resonators on an ultra-thin and flexible dielectric substrate. Bright-dark modes coupling at 1.96 THz was experimentally verified, and numerical results and theoretical analysis were presented. An enhanced theoretical sensitivity of 550 GHz/RIU was achieved for a sample with a thickness of 13 µm due to the ultra-thin substrate and novel design. A two-layer skin model was generated whereby keratinocyte cell lines were cultured on a base of collagen. When NEB1-shPTCH (basal cell carcinoma (BCC)) were switched out for NEB1-shCON cell lines (healthy) and when BCC's density was raised from 1 × 105 to 2.5 × 105, a frequency shift of 40 and 20 GHz were observed, respectively. A combined sensing analysis characterizes different cell lines. The findings may open new opportunities for early cancer detection with a fast, less-complicated, and inexpensive method.
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Zhang W, Lin J, Yuan Z, Lin Y, Shang W, Chin LK, Zhang M. Terahertz Metamaterials for Biosensing Applications: A Review. BIOSENSORS 2023; 14:3. [PMID: 38275304 PMCID: PMC10813048 DOI: 10.3390/bios14010003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2023] [Revised: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
In recent decades, THz metamaterials have emerged as a promising technology for biosensing by extracting useful information (composition, structure and dynamics) of biological samples from the interaction between the THz wave and the biological samples. Advantages of biosensing with THz metamaterials include label-free and non-invasive detection with high sensitivity. In this review, we first summarize different THz sensing principles modulated by the metamaterial for bio-analyte detection. Then, we compare various resonance modes induced in the THz range for biosensing enhancement. In addition, non-conventional materials used in the THz metamaterial to improve the biosensing performance are evaluated. We categorize and review different types of bio-analyte detection using THz metamaterials. Finally, we discuss the future perspective of THz metamaterial in biosensing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wu Zhang
- School of Physics and Material Science, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China; (W.Z.); (J.L.); (Z.Y.); (Y.L.)
| | - Jiahan Lin
- School of Physics and Material Science, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China; (W.Z.); (J.L.); (Z.Y.); (Y.L.)
| | - Zhengxin Yuan
- School of Physics and Material Science, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China; (W.Z.); (J.L.); (Z.Y.); (Y.L.)
| | - Yanxiao Lin
- School of Physics and Material Science, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China; (W.Z.); (J.L.); (Z.Y.); (Y.L.)
| | - Wenli Shang
- School of Electronics and Communication Engineering, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China;
- Key Laboratory of On-Chip Communication and Sensor Chip of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Lip Ket Chin
- Department of Electrical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
| | - Meng Zhang
- School of Electronics and Communication Engineering, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China;
- Key Laboratory of On-Chip Communication and Sensor Chip of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Guangzhou 510006, China
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Shi WN, Wang YM, Fan F, Liu JY, Cheng JR, Wang XH, Chang SJ. THz enantiomers of drugs recognized by the polarization enhancement of gold nanoparticles on an asymmetric metasurface. NANOSCALE 2023; 15:14146-14154. [PMID: 37591823 DOI: 10.1039/d3nr01826a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/19/2023]
Abstract
Chirality plays an important role in biological processes, and enantiomers often possess similar physical properties and different physiological functions. Thus, chiral detection of enantiomers has become a hot topic in recent years, and methods to enhance chiral molecular recognition are in urgent demand. In this work, a polarization detection method was used for different chiral drugs based on a specially designed metasurface composed of asymmetric double-opened rings and the surface enhancement effect of gold nanoparticles (GNPs). The experiment results show that the frequency shifts caused by the nearfield interaction of the metasurface and biomolecules have been significantly improved by GNPs, and both the limit of detection and detection precision of the metasurface can reach the 10-5 g ml-1 level. Moreover, the polarization sensing characterized by right circular polarization (RCP), the polarization elliptical angle (PEA), and the polarization rotation angle (PRA) shows that the enantiomers of three drugs can be distinguished, especially using the PEA spectrum; the maximum difference between enantiomers is over 30° with a precision of 6.6 × 10-7 g mL-1. Our THz polarization sensing and the GNP enhancement method inspire an efficient strategy for the highly sensitive detection of enantiomers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei-Nan Shi
- Institute of Modern Optics, Nankai University, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Micro-scale Optical Information Science and Technology, Tianjin 300350, China.
| | - Yi-Ming Wang
- Institute of Modern Optics, Nankai University, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Micro-scale Optical Information Science and Technology, Tianjin 300350, China.
| | - Fei Fan
- Institute of Modern Optics, Nankai University, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Micro-scale Optical Information Science and Technology, Tianjin 300350, China.
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Sensor and Sensing Network Technology, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Jia-Yue Liu
- Institute of Modern Optics, Nankai University, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Micro-scale Optical Information Science and Technology, Tianjin 300350, China.
| | - Jie-Rong Cheng
- Institute of Modern Optics, Nankai University, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Micro-scale Optical Information Science and Technology, Tianjin 300350, China.
| | - Xiang-Hui Wang
- Institute of Modern Optics, Nankai University, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Micro-scale Optical Information Science and Technology, Tianjin 300350, China.
| | - Sheng-Jiang Chang
- Institute of Modern Optics, Nankai University, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Micro-scale Optical Information Science and Technology, Tianjin 300350, China.
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Sensor and Sensing Network Technology, Tianjin 300350, China
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Shi WN, Fan F, Zhang TR, Liu JY, Wang XH, Chang S. Terahertz phase shift sensing and identification of a chiral amino acid based on a protein-modified metasurface through the isoelectric point and peptide bonding. BIOMEDICAL OPTICS EXPRESS 2023; 14:1096-1106. [PMID: 36950227 PMCID: PMC10026576 DOI: 10.1364/boe.484181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Revised: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The efficient sensing of amino acids, especially the distinction of their chiral enantiomers, is important for biological, chemical, and pharmaceutical research. In this work, a THz phase shift sensing method was performed for amino acid detection based on a polarization-dependent electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) metasurface. More importantly, a method for binding the specific amino acids to the functional proteins modified on the metasurface was developed based on the isoelectric point theory so that the specific recognition for Arginine (Arg) was achieved among the four different amino acids. The results show that via high-Q phase shift, the detection precision for L-Arg is 2.5 × 10-5 g /ml, much higher than traditional sensing parameters. Due to the specific electrostatic adsorption by the functionalized metasurface to L-Arg, its detection sensitivity and precision are 22 times higher than the other amino acids. Furthermore, by comparing nonfunctionalized and functionalized metasurfaces, the D- and L-chiral enantiomers of Arg were distinguished due to their different binding abilities to the functionalized metasurface. Therefore, this EIT metasurface sensor and its specific binding method improve both detection precision and specificity in THz sensing for amino acids, and it will promote the development of THz highly sensitive detection of chiral enantiomers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei-Nan Shi
- Institute of Modern Optics, Nankai University, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Micro-scale Optical Information Science and Technology, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Fei Fan
- Institute of Modern Optics, Nankai University, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Micro-scale Optical Information Science and Technology, Tianjin 300350, China
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Sensor and Sensing Network Technology, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Tian-Rui Zhang
- Institute of Modern Optics, Nankai University, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Micro-scale Optical Information Science and Technology, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Jia-Yue Liu
- Institute of Modern Optics, Nankai University, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Micro-scale Optical Information Science and Technology, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Xiang-Hui Wang
- Institute of Modern Optics, Nankai University, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Micro-scale Optical Information Science and Technology, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - ShengJiang Chang
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Sensor and Sensing Network Technology, Tianjin 300350, China
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Zhan X, Liu Y, Chen Z, Luo J, Yang S, Yang X. Revolutionary approaches for cancer diagnosis by terahertz-based spectroscopy and imaging. Talanta 2023; 259:124483. [PMID: 37019007 DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2023.124483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Revised: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2023] [Indexed: 03/31/2023]
Abstract
Most tumors are easily missed and misdiagnosed due to the lack of specific clinical signs and symptoms in the early stage. Thus, an accurate, rapid and reliable early tumor detection method is highly desirable. The application of terahertz (THz) spectroscopy and imaging in biomedicine has made remarkable progress in the past two decades, which addresses the shortcomings of existing technologies and provides an alternative for early tumor diagnosis. Although issues such as size mismatch and strong absorption of THz waves by water have set hurdles for cancer diagnosis by THz technology, innovative materials and biosensors in recent years have led to possibilities for new THz biosensing and imaging methods. In this article, we reviewed the issues that need to be solved before THz technology is used for tumor-related biological sample detection and clinical auxiliary diagnosis. We focused on the recent research progress of THz technology, with an emphasis on biosensing and imaging. Finally, the application of THz spectroscopy and imaging for tumor diagnosis in clinical practice and the main challenges in this process were also mentioned. Collectively, THz-based spectroscopy and imaging reviewed here is envisioned as a cutting-edge approach for cancer diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyu Zhan
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Southwest Hospital, Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University), Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Yu Liu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Chongqing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chongqing, 400037, China
| | - Zhiguo Chen
- Gastroenterology Department, Southwest Hospital, Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University), Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Jie Luo
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Southwest Hospital, Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University), Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Sha Yang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Southwest Hospital, Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University), Chongqing, 400038, China.
| | - Xiang Yang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Southwest Hospital, Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University), Chongqing, 400038, China.
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Hardt E, Chavarin CA, Gruessing S, Flesch J, Skibitzki O, Spirito D, Vita GM, Simone GD, Masi AD, You C, Witzigmann B, Piehler J, Capellini G. Quantitative protein sensing with germanium THz-antennas manufactured using CMOS processes. OPTICS EXPRESS 2022; 30:40265-40276. [PMID: 36298962 DOI: 10.1364/oe.469496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The development of a CMOS manufactured THz sensing platform could enable the integration of state-of-the-art sensing principles with the mixed signal electronics ecosystem in small footprint, low-cost devices. To this aim, in this work we demonstrate a label-free protein sensing platform using highly doped germanium plasmonic antennas realized on Si and SOI substrates and operating in the THz range of the electromagnetic spectrum. The antenna response to different concentrations of BSA shows in both cases a linear response with saturation above 20 mg/mL. Ge antennas on SOI substrates feature a two-fold sensitivity as compared to conventional Si substrates, reaching a value of 6 GHz/(mg/mL), which is four-fold what reported using metal-based metamaterials. We believe that this result could pave the way to a low-cost lab-on-a-chip biosensing platform.
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Zhang Z, Yang G, Fan F, Zhong C, Yuan Y, Zhang X, Chang S. Terahertz circular dichroism sensing of living cancer cells based on microstructure sensor. Anal Chim Acta 2021; 1180:338871. [PMID: 34538326 DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2021.338871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2021] [Revised: 07/20/2021] [Accepted: 07/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Terahertz (THz) waves have the advantages of being noninvasive and nonionizing because of their low radiation energy, so they have potential applications in the biomedical field, but thus far, those have been limited by the strong absorption in water and low detection sensitivity. Herein, we propose a reflective THz time-domain circular dichroism (CD) sensing system and a silicon subwavelength grating as the microstructure sensor to generate and detect the THz chiral polarization states, to realize quantitative detection of living cell numbers and qualitative identification of cell kinds in a liquid environment. Three kinds of hepatoma cell proliferation and inhibition with different concentrations of aspirin were measured by this sensing method, and the experimental results show that the sensitivities for CD resonance intensity and frequency shift can reach 3.44 dB mL/106 cells and 5.88 GHz mL/106 cells, respectively, and the minimum detection concentration is in the order of 104 cells/mL for THz detection in a liquid environment for the first time. This new THz sensing system and sensing method are expected to become a broadband, label-free, noncontact, real-time detection technology that can be used for quantitative detection and qualitative identification of cells or other active biochemical materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziyang Zhang
- Institute of Modern Optics, Nankai University, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Micro-scale Optical Information Science and Technology, Tianjin, 300350, China
| | - Guang Yang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Cancer Biology, Tianjin Cancer Institute, Liver Cancer Center, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, 300060, China
| | - Fei Fan
- Institute of Modern Optics, Nankai University, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Micro-scale Optical Information Science and Technology, Tianjin, 300350, China; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Sensor and Sensing Network Technology, Tianjin, 300350, China.
| | - Changzhi Zhong
- Institute of Modern Optics, Nankai University, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Micro-scale Optical Information Science and Technology, Tianjin, 300350, China
| | - Ying Yuan
- Department of Cancer Research, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China
| | - Xiaodong Zhang
- Department of Cancer Research, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China; Department of Gastrointestinal Cancer Biology, Tianjin Cancer Institute, Liver Cancer Center, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, 300060, China.
| | - Shengjiang Chang
- Institute of Modern Optics, Nankai University, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Micro-scale Optical Information Science and Technology, Tianjin, 300350, China; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Sensor and Sensing Network Technology, Tianjin, 300350, China
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Hou L, Shi W, Dong C, Yang L, Wang Y, Wang H, Hang Y, Xue F. Probing trace lactose from aqueous solutions by terahertz time-domain spectroscopy. SPECTROCHIMICA ACTA. PART A, MOLECULAR AND BIOMOLECULAR SPECTROSCOPY 2021; 246:119044. [PMID: 33068898 DOI: 10.1016/j.saa.2020.119044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2020] [Revised: 09/28/2020] [Accepted: 09/30/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Terahertz (THz) waves have unique advantages in detecting biological substances. However, due to the strong absorption of THz waves by water, the development of THz detection technology in this field is seriously restricted. At present, although there are a few methods to detect hydrated materials, they cannot be widely used because of their defects. In this paper, a convenient and promising method for the detection of THz spectra of hydrated substances is proposed. A horn shaped tapered parallel plate waveguide is designed, which can enhance the electrical field of the incident THz wave at its central position, so as to obtain the THz spectral information of hydrated substances in a THz time-domain spectroscopy system. The detection of α-lactose dilute solution was demonstrated, the spectral range is from 0.1 to 1.5 THz and the sensitivity can reach the order of femtomole. This method has potential application prospect in the in situ detection of trace hydrated substances, cells and biomolecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Hou
- Department of Applied Physics, Xi'an University of Technology, Xi'an 710048, China; Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Ultrafast Photoelectronic Technology and Terahertz Science, Xi'an University of Technology, Xi'an 710048, China
| | - Wei Shi
- Department of Applied Physics, Xi'an University of Technology, Xi'an 710048, China; Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Ultrafast Photoelectronic Technology and Terahertz Science, Xi'an University of Technology, Xi'an 710048, China.
| | - Chengang Dong
- Department of Applied Physics, Xi'an University of Technology, Xi'an 710048, China; Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Ultrafast Photoelectronic Technology and Terahertz Science, Xi'an University of Technology, Xi'an 710048, China
| | - Lei Yang
- Department of Applied Physics, Xi'an University of Technology, Xi'an 710048, China; Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Ultrafast Photoelectronic Technology and Terahertz Science, Xi'an University of Technology, Xi'an 710048, China
| | - Yuezheng Wang
- Department of Applied Physics, Xi'an University of Technology, Xi'an 710048, China; Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Ultrafast Photoelectronic Technology and Terahertz Science, Xi'an University of Technology, Xi'an 710048, China
| | - Haiqing Wang
- Department of Applied Physics, Xi'an University of Technology, Xi'an 710048, China; Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Ultrafast Photoelectronic Technology and Terahertz Science, Xi'an University of Technology, Xi'an 710048, China
| | - Yuhua Hang
- Suzhou Nuclear Power Research Institute, Suzhou 215004, China
| | - Fei Xue
- Suzhou Nuclear Power Research Institute, Suzhou 215004, China
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