Optical Interferometric Device for Rapid and Specific Detection of Biological Cells

• Published in: Biosensors (Basel) Vol. 14; no. 9; p. 421
• Main Authors: Valkai, Sándor, Petrovszki, Dániel, Fáskerti, Zsombor, Baumgärtner, Margaréta, Biczók, Brigitta, Dakos, Kira, Dósa, Kevin, Kirner, Berill B, Kocsis, Anna E, Nagy, Krisztina, Andó, István, Dér, András
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 29.08.2024; MDPI
• Subjects: Antibodies; biological cells; Biosensing Techniques; Body fluids; Cell surface; Cell suspensions; Cells; Communication; easy-to-use tool; Fiber lasers; Fiber optics; Glass substrates; Humans; Interferometry; label-free biosensor; Laser beams; Lasers; Light; Limit of Detection; Optical Fibers; Optics; point of care; proof of concept; Sedimentation & deposition; U937 Cells; Viral antibodies; United States > US; fiber optics; label-free biosensor; biological cells; point of care; easy-to-use tool; proof of concept
• DOI: 10.3390/bios14090421
• ISSN: 2079-6374

Here, we report a rapid and accurate optical method for detecting cells from liquid samples in a label-free manner. The working principle of the method is based on the interference of parts of a conical laser beam, coming from a single-mode optical fiber directly, and reflected from a flat glass surface. The glass is functionalized by antibodies against the cells to be detected from the liquid sample. Cells bound to that surface modify the reflected beam, and hence, change the resulting interference pattern, too. By registering and interpreting the variation in the image, the presence of cells from the sample can be detected. As for a demonstration, cell suspensions from a U937 cell line were used in glass chambers functionalized by antibodies (TMG6-5 (mIgG1)) to which the cells specifically bind. The limit of detection (LOD) of the method was also estimated. This proof-of-concept setup offers a cost-effective and easy-to-use way of rapid and specific detection of any type of cells (including pathogens) from suspensions (e.g., body fluids). The possible portability of the device predicts its applicability as a rapid test in clinical diagnostics.