Complex waveforms and microwave systems for characterization and actuation at the single-cell level in life sciences

Microwave concepts are increasingly being used in microfluidic devices to advance detection, monitoring and actuation of liquid mixtures in lab-on-a-chip applications thanks to earlier research that demonstrated capabilities of microwave sensing and heating. A promising way to fight cancer in the early stages, among other diseases, is through information carried by single cells and extracellular vesicles (EVs). However, extracting this information often depends on the availability of biomarkers and their matching bioreceptors. To circumvent this necessity, this PhD will contribute to exploring in an interdisciplinary project on the subject of microwave dielectric sensing combined with novel microfluidic solutions as a platform capable of differentiating single cells and EVs in a label-free manner. Thus, a unique microwave-microfluidic technology will be developed that is capable of single-cell seeding and retrieval, EV manipulation, micro- to pico-liter sample handling and label-free single cell and EV characterization through multi-frequency microwave sensing and actuation. This PhD will first focus on development of calibration techniques for on-wafer measurements for dielectric spectroscopy of single cells. The obtained dielectric spectroscopy data will be investigated and later used to conceive an optimal signal waveform for single healthy and cancerous cell sensing. Moreover, the required microwave system is to build to generate the required waveforms for sensing in biological laboratories. The scientifically engineered system will then be further expanded to enable integration of heaters and interferometers.