Terahertz monitoring of stem cells differentiation
Lead Research Organisation:
Queen Mary University of London
Department Name: Sch of Electronic Eng & Computer Science
Abstract
urrent methods for monitoring the cell type after stem cell differentiation rely on either visual means, or the use of destructive sampling, which do not always produce reproducible results.
Instead, we here propose to monitor stem cells over time as they differentiate in a hydrogel scaffold in vitro, using terahertz radiation. This method has been chosen for numerous reasons, the first of which being that terahertz frequencies are where many of the resonant vibrational modes of biological molecules lie, which may be an important factor to aid in analysis of the data. It is non-ionising radiation, so will not damage the stem cells during monitoring. The wavelength of the radiation and the size of the stem cells will be on a similar scale, this will lead to scattering in the mie domain, which may be an appropriate domain for determining the particle size of the scatterer. As the stem cells grow and change in size, the scattering will change, which will change the terahertz response, we aim to use these changes and the vibrational modes to identify the stages of stem cell differentiation.
The potential impact would be that a remote, non-destructive monitoring scheme for stem cell differentiation may be an outcome of this project, especially if reproducible results are obtainable.
The main aim of this project would be to create a link between the scattered terahertz spectra to the stages of stem cell differentiation, in a repeatable and non destructive manner.
Another aim would be to use this methodology to study the effects of hydrogel geometry and parameters on the stem cell fate, and compare these results to those gathered via destructive or visual means.
The novelty of this method is the application of terahertz spectroscopy to the study of stem cells. Analysis of the results based on the resonant modes of the cells may provide
Since this project touches upon both terahertz techniques and stem cell monitoring, I believe that the EPSRC strategies and research areas this project aligns with are:
"RF and microwave devices" - However, we don't expect to build any terahertz systems, but we will make use of existing ones available.
"Biomaterials and tissue engineering" - This is due to the aims of understanding the stem cell growth better, as well as attempting to find a reproducible way for identifying the stem cell differentiation.
In terms of companies and collaborations, there are no definite ones as of yet, however this is likely to change, so I will update you on these details when they become available.
Instead, we here propose to monitor stem cells over time as they differentiate in a hydrogel scaffold in vitro, using terahertz radiation. This method has been chosen for numerous reasons, the first of which being that terahertz frequencies are where many of the resonant vibrational modes of biological molecules lie, which may be an important factor to aid in analysis of the data. It is non-ionising radiation, so will not damage the stem cells during monitoring. The wavelength of the radiation and the size of the stem cells will be on a similar scale, this will lead to scattering in the mie domain, which may be an appropriate domain for determining the particle size of the scatterer. As the stem cells grow and change in size, the scattering will change, which will change the terahertz response, we aim to use these changes and the vibrational modes to identify the stages of stem cell differentiation.
The potential impact would be that a remote, non-destructive monitoring scheme for stem cell differentiation may be an outcome of this project, especially if reproducible results are obtainable.
The main aim of this project would be to create a link between the scattered terahertz spectra to the stages of stem cell differentiation, in a repeatable and non destructive manner.
Another aim would be to use this methodology to study the effects of hydrogel geometry and parameters on the stem cell fate, and compare these results to those gathered via destructive or visual means.
The novelty of this method is the application of terahertz spectroscopy to the study of stem cells. Analysis of the results based on the resonant modes of the cells may provide
Since this project touches upon both terahertz techniques and stem cell monitoring, I believe that the EPSRC strategies and research areas this project aligns with are:
"RF and microwave devices" - However, we don't expect to build any terahertz systems, but we will make use of existing ones available.
"Biomaterials and tissue engineering" - This is due to the aims of understanding the stem cell growth better, as well as attempting to find a reproducible way for identifying the stem cell differentiation.
In terms of companies and collaborations, there are no definite ones as of yet, however this is likely to change, so I will update you on these details when they become available.
Publications
Cheng J
(2020)
Quasi-Optical Sub-THz Circular Dichroism Spectroscopy of Solvated Myoglobin
in IEEE Transactions on Terahertz Science and Technology
Dubrovka R
(2022)
Additive Manufacturing of a Terahertz Back-to-Back Horn Antenna for Use in Life Sciences
in IEEE Transactions on Components, Packaging and Manufacturing Technology
Jones R
(2022)
Sub-THz Circular Dichroism using Wire Grid Polarizers