Label-free single-cell counting and characterization in the GHz-range

Paul V. Gwozdz; Jann Harberts; Robert Zierold; Robert H. Blick

doi:10.1515/freq-2022-0132

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Label-free single-cell counting and characterization in the GHz-range

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Veröffentlicht/Copyright: 20. Oktober 2022

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Abstract

We demonstrate operation of a micropore based flow cytometer in the radio-frequency range. Apart from simply counting micron sized particles, such as cells, with close to nano-second resolution this counter offers the additional benefit of delivering insight into the intracellular environment. Such non-invasive screening of the cell’s interior based on analysing amplitude and phase of the signal is helpful in characterizing the biological activity of cells. In detail we are using heterodyne mixing to demodulate the temporal impedance changes, which are induced by cells translocating through a micropore embedded in a radio-frequency circuit. This allows us to measure every amplitude and phase modulation induced by a translocation event. Herein, we compare the Jurkat cells (human T lymphocytes) recordings with a control group of polystyrene beads. As the cells are measured on a single cell level, the variations on the measured amplitude and phase signals are used, herein, to sense morphological cell changes in real time.

Keywords: radio frequency circuits; single cell counting; spectroscopic probing

Corresponding author: Robert H. Blick, Center for Hybrid Nanostructures (CHyN), Universität Hamburg, DESY Campus Bldg. 600, Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761 Hamburg, Germany; and Materials Science and Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1550 University Avenue, Madison, WI, USA, E-mail: rblick@chyn.uni-hamburg.de

Funding source: Deutsche Forschungs-gemeinschaft

Funding source: Joachim-Herz-Stiftung

Acknowledgments

We like to thank our colleagues A. Guse, B. Diercks, and L. Hernandez for in depth discussions and are looking forward to applying our improved devices for detailed studies on T cells.

Author contributions: All the authors have accepted responsibility for the entire content of this submitted manuscript and approved submission.
Research funding: We acknowledge support by the Deutsche Forschungs-gemeinschaft (DFG) within the Priority Program SPP-1857 (‘ESSENCE’) and by the Joachim-Herz-Stiftung within the ‘BioPict’-program.
Conflict of interest statement: The authors declare no conflicts of interest regarding this article.

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Received: 2022-06-24

Accepted: 2022-10-06

Published Online: 2022-10-20

Published in Print: 2022-12-16

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https://doi.org/10.1515/freq-2022-0132

Schlagwörter für diesen Artikel

radio frequency circuits; single cell counting; spectroscopic probing