Dielectrophoresis-Based Biosensor for Detection of the Cancer Biomarkers CEA and CA 242 in Serum

We show that dielectrophoresis (DEP) spectroscopy is an effective transduction mechanism for detection of the concentration levels of the pancreatic cancer biomarkers cancer antigen (CA) 242 and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in serum. We noticed a frequency dependence of the negative DEP force applied by interdigitated electrodes on functionalized polystyrene microspheres (PM) with respect to changes in the number of these cancer antigens bound to the PM. An electrode array with a well-defined gradient of the electric field was designed and used, which enabled the automation of the signal processing and reproducibility of the signal acquired by the biosensor.

Automated summary

This study demonstrates that dielectrophoresis (DEP) spectroscopy is an effective transduction mechanism for detecting the concentration levels of pancreatic cancer biomarkers CA 242 and CEA in serum. By observing the frequency dependence of the negative DEP force applied on functionalized polystyrene microspheres, the researchers were able to measure changes in the number of cancer antigens bound to the microspheres. The use of an electrode array with a well-defined electric field gradient enabled automated signal processing and reproducibility of the biosensor signal.