Highly sensitive terahertz metasurface based on electromagnetically induced transparency-like resonance in detection of skin cancer cells

Nourinovin, S., Rahman, M. M., Naftaly, M., Philpott, M. P., Abbasi, Q. and Alomainy, A. (2024) Highly sensitive terahertz metasurface based on electromagnetically induced transparency-like resonance in detection of skin cancer cells. IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering, (doi: 10.1109/TBME.2024.3364386) (PMID:38335072) (Early Online Publication)

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 13μm 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.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: This research was supported by the School of EECS and the Centre for Cell Biology and Cutaneous Research of Bilzard Institute at the Queen Mary University of London.
• Status: Early Online Publication
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Nourinovin, Miss Shohreh and Abbasi, Professor Qammer
• Authors: Nourinovin, S., Rahman, M. M., Naftaly, M., Philpott, M. P., Abbasi, Q., and Alomainy, A.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering > Electronics and Nanoscale Engineering
• Journal Name: IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering
• Publisher: IEEE
• ISSN: 0018-9294
• ISSN (Online): 1558-2531
• Published Online: 09 February 2024
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2024, IEEE
• First Published: First published in IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering 2024
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the publisher copyright policy