Broadband dielectric characterization of CHO-K1 cells using miniaturized transmission-line sensor

A miniaturized transmission-line sensor based on a coplanar waveguide with increased sensitivity is used to characterize living and dead CHO-K1 cells in suspension. The biological samples are guided across the sensor in a microfluidic channel which is fabricated using microsystems technology. The broadband sensor is used between 850MHz and 40 GHz to detect the permittivity of liquid samples. The contrast between living and dead cells in suspension is significant despite a very small sampling volume.