title: Sensing minute changes in biological cell monolayers with THz differential time-domain spectroscopy.
abstract: We used terahertz differential time-domain spectroscopy (THz-DTDS) to measure minute changes of bovine lung microvessel endothelial cells (BLMVEC) in response to vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). These changes were reflected by alterations in THz wave attenuations and THz dielectric properties of the treated cells. The VEGF-induced THz attenuations of cell monolayers correlated well with changes in transendothelial resistance, as measured using electric cell-substrate impedance sensing (ECIS). However, the morphological differences that gave rise to these changes were not observed with standard optical phase contrast microscopy. We conclude that THz-DTDS is a highly sensitive, non-invasive, powerful new tool to measure minute changes in the morphology of live, cultured cell monolayers. This method enables spectroscopic investigations of cells in the THz band, providing information unavailable through other conventional methods such as optical phase contrast microscopy and ECIS.
authors.affiliation: Center for Terahertz Research, CII 9009, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY 12180, USA.
authors.forename: Hai-Bo
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Plopper
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Earley
authors.forename: Yunqing
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Bradley
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ferguson
authors.forename: X-C
authors.initials: XC
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D048429:Cell Size / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D008872:Microwaves; D013057:Spectrum Analysis / Q000379:methods*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A