Using Permittivity Measurements to Probe Biological Systems
Abstract
In this talk, I describe our efforts toward developing viable electronic techniques to detect cells and probe macromolecular solutions, all within microfluidic channels. Wholly electronic measurements of biological specimens have several advantages over conventional chemical and optical techniques, especially in the context of micro-analytical ("lab on a chip") systems. Advantages include rapid and direct interrogation, eliminating the need for chemical alteration or fluorescent labelling, and obviating the need for elaborate external optical equipment. In addition, one can take advantage of current integrated circuit technology for high-yield, low-cost production of disposable measurement chips. For fundamental and practical reasons, it is desirable to extend the excitation frequency over as broad a range as possible. We have therefore developed a microfluidic device employing a coplanar waveguide as a sensor. This waveguide enables us to perform permittivity measurements across the frequency range from 40 Hz to 26.5 GHz. I will describe the information we can obtain in several different frequency regimes, and provide several examples of detecting and quantifying biological species with our electronic chip.
- Publication:
-
APS March Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- March 2001
- Bibcode:
- 2001APS..MAR.G2001F