Abstract-Microfluidic Devices for Terahertz Spectroscopy of Live Cells Toward Lab-on-a-Chip Applications

Qi Tang 1

, Min Liang 1

, Yi Lu 2

, Pak Kin Wong 2

, Gerald J. Wilmink 3

, Donna D. Zhang 4

 and Hao Xin 1,* 

1 Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA2 Department of Biomedical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA3 WiseWear Corporation, New York, NY 10018, USA4 College of Pharmacy, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA

* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

http://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/16/4/476

THz spectroscopy is an emerging technique for studying the dynamics and interactions of cells and biomolecules, but many practical challenges still remain in experimental studies. We present a prototype of simple and inexpensive cell-trapping microfluidic chip for THz spectroscopic study of live cells. Cells are transported, trapped and concentrated into the THz exposure region by applying an AC bias signal while the chip maintains a steady temperature at 37 °C by resistive heating. We conduct some preliminary experiments on E. coli and T-cell solution and compare the transmission spectra of empty channels, channels filled with aqueous media only, and channels filled with aqueous media with un-concentrated and concentrated cells.