Electrical and viscoelastic measurement of cancer cells in epithelial-mesenchymal transition process on a microfluidic device

Abstract

Microfluidic devices and electrical techniques based on electrical impedance and viscoelastic changes can be used in the measurement of cancer cells in the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process. Electrical impedance and transmission time were investigated when a single CRC cell passed the measurable tiny channel which was designed with width smaller than the average diameter of a single cell. The experimental data showed that the electrical impedance characteristics and viscoelasticity of the cells were changed after PMA induction. This property is expected to become a new biomarker for studying EMT.