Dielectrophoretic and Electrical Impedance Differentiation of Cancerous Cells Based on Biophysical Phenotype

Here, we reported a study on the detection and electrical characterization of both cancer cell line and primary tumor cells. Dielectrophoresis (DEP) and electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) were jointly employed to enable the rapid and label-free differentiation of various cancer cells from normal ones. The primary tumor cells that were collected from two colorectal cancer patients, cancer cell lines (SW-403, Jurkat, and THP-1), and healthy peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were trapped first at the level of interdigitated microelectrodes with the help of dielectrophoresis. Correlation of the cells dielectric characteristics that was obtained via electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) allowed evident differentiation of the various types of cell. The differentiations were assigned to a dielectric phenotype based on their crossover frequencies. Finally, Randles equivalent circuit model was employed for highlighting the differences with regard to a series group of charge transport resistance and constant phase element for cancerous and normal cells.

Automated summary

This study utilized dielectrophoresis and electrical impedance spectroscopy for the detection and electrical characterization of cancer cell lines and primary tumor cells, allowing for rapid and label-free differentiation of various cancer cells from normal ones. Through dielectrophoresis trapping and electrical impedance spectroscopy analysis of dielectric characteristics, the different types of cells were clearly differentiated based on their crossover frequencies. The differences between cancerous and normal cells were highlighted using a Randles equivalent circuit model in terms of a series group of charge transport resistance and constant phase element.