A Sensor Concept for Label-Free Cell Analysis

Based on IR absorbance spectra of healthy and malignant breast [1] and blood cells [2] found in literature we investigated the possibility of disease stage cell discrimination by comparing only a few absorbance peaks. This way no expensive FTIR spectroscope or time consuming expensive staining/labeling steps are required. Absorbance differences between healthy and malignant cells at wavelengths 3.42 and 3.51 μm (corresponding to lipid CH2-anti-symmetric and CH2-symmetric stretch respectively), showed a possible disease stage discrimination basis. To test the few wavelengths hypothesis the absorbance spectra of healthy and carcinoma epithelial kidney cell lines were recorded with an FTIR-spectroscope and compared. The results showed a significant difference between the three cell lines which have led to the development and realization of a novel sensor system.