Authors: César Palacios-Arias, Marc Jofre, María-José López, Youness Akazzim, Lluis Jofre, Jordi Romeu, and Luis Jofre-Roca
César Palacios-Arias and colleagues from the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya have developed an innovative method for measuring nonlinear microwave susceptibility using intermodulation products on a microfluidic platform. This groundbreaking research, published in IEEE Access, combines microwave technology with microfluidics to enhance the study of cellular responses to electromagnetic fields.
The study introduces the use of passive intermodulation products (PIMP) in conjunction with microfluidic platforms. PIMPs are generated when two or more frequencies interact within a nonlinear medium, providing a sensitive measure of nonlinear responses. One example response for cell studies is the transmembrane voltage, which can be used to distinguish between living and dead cells. Microfluidic platforms, which allow precise control over small fluid volumes, also offer several advantages for this application. They enable accurate manipulation of cellular environments and provide a stable platform for high-precision measurements, further increasing the resolution of nonlinear measurements.
Figure 1. Set-up of the nonlinearities measurement system based on passive intermodulation product.
By integrating these technologies, the researchers have created a system capable of detecting subtle changes in cellular behavior with real-time, non-invasive monitoring and unprecedented sensitivity and accuracy. This opens the ability to study how different cell types react to various electromagnetic frequencies and intensities, potentially uncovering new insights into cellular communication, stress responses, and even therapeutic applications.
The success of such measurements depends on accurate fluid handling within the microfluidic system. Instruments like the iFlow pressure controller from PreciGenome play a crucial role in providing reliable fluidic control, ensuring the stability and reproducibility of these experiments.
For more details on this innovative research, you can access the full paper at: https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10542997/