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Hamza, Musa N., Alibakhshikenari, Mohammad, Virdee, Bal Singh, Lavadiya, Sunil, Din, Iftikhar Ud, Sanches, Bruno, Koziel, Slawomir, Naqvi, Syeda Iffat, Panda, Abinash, Farmani, Ali, Rashid, Nasr, Kouhalvandi, Lida and Shariatifar, Milad (2025) Precision multi-band terahertz metamaterial biosensor with targeted spectral selectivity for early detection of MCF-7 breast cancer cells. IEEE Sensors Journal. pp. 1-21. ISSN 1558-1748
Cancer remains one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide, with breast cancer being a particularly prevalent form. Projections estimate nearly 20 million new cases globally over the next two decades. Early detection is critical for effective treatment; however, conventional diagnostic techniques often lack the necessary sensitivity and specificity, with some methods being invasive and labor-intensive. Recent advancements in microwave imaging (MWI) have shown significant potential as efficient, non-invasive tools for monitoring various cancer types. MWI operating in the terahertz (THz) range has emerged as a promising approach for bio-sensing, offering the precision needed to differentiate between healthy and cancerous tissues by analyzing small-scale biological features. Among the methods for breast cancer detection, the identification and analysis of MCF-7 breast cancer cells are particularly significant. THz waves interact uniquely with the intrinsic properties of MCF-7 cells, making THz-based biosensors ideal candidates for diagnostic tools. However, many existing sensors are limited in key performance areas, including operating bandwidth and absorption efficiency. This study introduces a novel multi-band metamaterial (MTM)-based biosensor specifically designed for the detection of MCF-7 breast cancer cells. The sensor features a compact geometry composed of multiple resonators made from 200-nm-thick aluminium (Al) layers on a 50-μm-thick polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrate. With dimensions of only 198 × 198 μm², the proposed device is exceptionally compact. It operates in the 0.5 THz to 1.6 THz frequency range and achieves near-perfect absorption rates (>99%) across multiple bandwidths. These results are achieved through precise tuning of the sensor's geometry and architectural optimization, significantly enhancing its sensitivity for cancer detection. Comprehensive validation of the sensor is performed using full-wave electromagnetic analysis, which includes evaluating electric and magnetic field distributions, surface currents, and scattering parameters. Extensive benchmarking demonstrates the device’s superior performance compared to state-of-the-art biosensors, excelling in metrics such as quality-factor, figure of merit (FOM), and absorption efficiency. Additionally, the proposed sensor has been integrated into an MWI system to evaluate its practical application. The device successfully discriminated against subtle changes in the refractive index of biological tissues, confirming its ability to detect MCF-7 cells effectively. These findings highlight the sensor's suitability as a non-invasive, early-stage diagnostic tool for breast cancer.
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution 4.0.
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