A Modified Triple Coupled Cantilever for Single Cell Physical Cytometry for Mass Sensing Applications

International Journal of Electrical and Electronics Engineering

© 2024 by SSRG - IJEEE Journal

Volume 11 Issue 9

Year of Publication : 2024

Authors : A.L.G.N. Aditya, Elizabeth Rufus

10.14445/23488379/IJEEE-V11I9P109

How to Cite?

A.L.G.N. Aditya, Elizabeth Rufus, "A Modified Triple Coupled Cantilever for Single Cell Physical Cytometry for Mass Sensing Applications," SSRG International Journal of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, vol. 11,  no. 9, pp. 104-111, 2024. Crossref, https://doi.org/10.14445/23488379/IJEEE-V11I9P109

Abstract:

The physical cytometry of single cells is indispensable in understanding different disease prognosis states in the human body. Among the physical cytometry parameters, mass plays a vital role in understanding cell behaviour, which necessitates disease diagnosis at early stages. Micro-Electromechanical Systems (MEMS) resonators have been proficient in Mass sensing applications but often hinder performance due to sensitivity and surface modification techniques, especially for single-cell studies. Mechanical coupling of these micro-resonators has shown characteristics and eigenmodes that are suitable for various applications, including mass sensing, which eliminates challenges of sensitivity. Coupled systems of cantilevers are still being researched, and two- and triple-coupled cantilevers have proven to be effective in mass sensing applications in specific second modes of excitation. In this paper, we have proposed a modified Triple Couple Cantilever (TCC) that is structurally modified for the entrapment of single cells by maintaining the coupling, for which surface modification of single entrapment is also proposed. This work is approached with finite element modelling of the device that displays conventional TCC for the degeneration of coupled eigenstates, which is achieved by LO/LC = 0.3 (overhang to cantilever length).  The structural modification is achieved that can entrap single cells and demonstrate the coupling stability of the modified TCC.  The mass responses of the device from a range of 10pg to 100pg for both the TCC and Modified TCC are calibrated. The mass sensitivity is achieved around 0.8×105 µm for a 10pg of mass addition.

Keywords:

Coupled cantilevers, Finite element modelling, Mass sensing, MEMS resonators, Single-cell entrapment, Sensitivity, Triple coupled cantilevers.

References:

[1] Gabriel Popescu et al., “New Technologies for Measuring Single Cell Mass,” Lab on a Chip, vol. 14, no. 4, pp. 646-652, 2014.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[2] Gerard I. Evan, and Karen H. Vousden, “Proliferation, Cell Cycle and Apoptosis in Cancer,” Nature, vol. 411, no. 6835, pp. 342-348, 2001.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[3] Teemu P Miettinen et al., “Mammalian Cell Growth Dynamics in Mitosis,” eLife, vol. 8, 2019.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[4] Mustafa Mir et al., “Optical Measurement of Cycle-Dependent Cell Growth,” Biological Sciences, vol. 108, no. 32, pp. 13124-13129, 2011.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[5] Michel Godin et al., “Using Buoyant Mass to Measure the Growth of Single Cells,” Nature Methods, vol. 7, no. 5, pp. 387-390, 2010.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[6] Ronald R. Henriquez et al., “The Resurgence of Coulter Counting for Analyzing Nanoscale Objects,” Analyst, vol. 129, no. 6, pp. 478-482, 2004.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[7] Xiaojun Zhao et al., “A Rapid Bioassay for Single Bacterial Cell Quantitation Using Bioconjugated Nanoparticles,” PNAS, vol. 101, no. 42, pp. 15027-15032, 2004.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[8] Heng-Hui Gan, Christos Soukoulis, and Ian Fisk, “Atmospheric Pressure Chemical Ionisation Mass Spectrometry Analysis Linked with Chemometrics for Food Classification - A Case Study: Geographical Provenance and Cultivar Classification of Monovarietal Clarified Apple Juices,” Food Chemistry, vol. 146, pp. 149-156, 2014.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[9] L. Streppa et al., “Tracking in Real Time the Crawling Dynamics of Adherent Living Cells with a High Resolution Surface Plasmon Microscope,” Plasmonics in Biology and Medicine XIII, San Francisco, California, United States, 2016.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[10] T.P. Burg, and S.R. Manalis, “Suspended Microchannel Resonators for Biomolecular Detection,” Applied Physics Letters, vol. 83, no. 13, pp. 2698-2700, 2003.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[11] A. Gupta, D. Akin, and R. Bashir, “Single Virus Particle Mass Detection Using Microresonators with Nanoscale Thickness,” Applied Physics Letters, vol. 84, no. 11, pp. 1976-1978, 2004.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[12] Matthew Spletzer et al., “Ultrasensitive Mass Sensing Using Mode Localization in Coupled Microcantilevers,” Applied Physics Letters, vol. 88, no. 25, 2006.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[13] Søren Dohn et al., “Enhanced Functionality of Cantilever Based Mass Sensors Using Higher Modes,” Applied Physics Letters, vol. 86, no. 23, 2005.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[14] S. Dohn et al., “Mass and Position Determination of Attached Particles on Cantilever Based Mass Sensors,” Review of Scientific Instruments, vol. 78, no. 10, 2007.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[15] Kidong Park et al., “Resonant MEMS Mass Sensors for Measurement of Microdroplet Evaporation,” Journal of Microelectromechanical Systems, vol. 21, no. 3, pp. 702-711, 2012.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[16] K. Park, and R. Bashir, “MEMS-Based Resonant Sensor with Uniform Mass Sensitivity,” TRANSDUCERS 2009 - 2009 International Solid-State Sensors, Actuators and Microsystems Conference, Denver, CO, USA, pp. 1956-1958, 2009.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[17] Jungchul Lee, “Toward Attogram Mass Measurements in Solution with Suspended Nanochannel Resonators,” Nano Letters, vol. 10, no. 7, pp. 2537-2542, 2010.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[18] Dong F. Wang et al., “Enhancing Amplitude Changes by Mode Localization in Trio Cantilevers with Mass Perturbation,” Journal of Micromechanics and Microengineering, vol. 25, no. 9, 2015.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[19] Meng-Lin Guo et al., “Mode Coupling in Electromechanical Systems: Recent Advances and Applications,” Advanced Electronic Materials, vol. 9, no. 7, 2023.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[20] Hossein Pakdast, and Marco Lazzarino, “Triple Coupled Cantilever Systems for Mass Detection and Localization,” Sensors and Actuators A: Physical, vol. 175, pp. 127-131, 2012.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[21] F. Torres et al., “Coupling Resonant Micro and Nanocantilevers to Improve Mass Responsivity by Detectability Product,” TRANSDUCERS 2007 - 2007 International Solid-State Sensors, Actuators and Microsystems Conference, Lyon, France, pp. 237-240, 2007.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[22] Xinxin Li et al., “Resonance Enhancement of Micromachined Resonators with Strong Mechanical-Coupling between Two Degrees of Freedom,” Microelectronic Engineering, vol. 65, no. 1-2, pp. 1-12, 2003.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[23] Eduardo Gil-Santos et al., “Mass Sensing Based on Deterministic and Stochastic Responses of Elastically Coupled Nanocantilevers,” Nano Letters, vol. 9, no. 12, pp. 4122-4127, 2009.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[24] Khadija F. Zaidi, and Nitin Agrawal, “Microstencil-Based Spatial Immobilization of Individual Cells for Single Cell Analysis,” Biomicrofluidics, vol. 12, no. 6, 2018.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[25] Katarzyna A. Rejniak, “A Single-Cell Approach in Modeling the Dynamics of Tumor Microregions,” Mathematical Biosciences and Engineering, vol. 2, no. 3, pp. 643-655, 2005.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[26] Sung-Hwan Kim, Gi Hoon Lee, and Joong Yull Park, “Microwell Fabrication Methods and Applications for Cellular Studies,” Biomedical Engineering Letters, vol. 3, no. 3, pp. 131-137, 2013.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]