40 GHz RF biosensor based on microwave coplanar waveguide transmission line for cancer cells (HepG2) dielectric characterization

摘要

This paper presents a 40-GHz RF biosensor that involves using a microwave coplanar waveguide (CPW) transmission line for the dielectric characterization of cancer cells (Hepatoma G2, HepG2). In the past, conventional resonator-based biosensors were designed to operate at a specific resonant peak; however, the dielectric sensitivity of the cells was restricted to a narrow bandwidth. To provide a very wide bandwidth (1-40 GHz), biosensors were based on a microwave CPW transmission line. The proposed biosensor can rapidly measure two frequency-dependent cell-based dielectric parameters of HepG2 cells, microwave attenuation (α(f)_(cell)) and the dielectric constant (ε_r(f)_(cell)), while removing the microwave parasitic effects (including the cultured medium and substrate materials). The proposed biosensor can be applied in postoperative cancer diagnosis.