Abstract: An electrical probe is disclosed for measuring an electrical response from a biological cell. The electrical probe includes a tungsten microwire having a sharpened tip section, a catalyst layer formed on the sharpened tip section of the tungsten microwire, and an array of nanotube electrodes vertically aligned on the catalyst layer. The catalyst layer includes a catalyst bilayer including a nickel layer over a gold layer, and the nanotube electrodes include a plurality of silicon nanotubes (SiNTs).

Abstract: A system for diagnosing metastasis in a metastatic-suspicious sample, including: a bio-chip, an electrical signal extraction board and a processor. The bio-chip includes a biosensor including a substrate, an array of electrodes, where the array of electrodes is patterned on the substrate and at least one Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cell (HUVEC) which is adhered on the substrate and on the array of electrodes forming a biological trap for a metastatic cell. A metastatic-suspicious sample may be introduced onto the bio-chip allowing for diagnosis of metastasis by monitoring the time-lapse electrical signals that are recorded by the processor.

Abstract: A single-cell-based electromechanical method for cancerous state detection including the steps of preparing a suspension of individually suspended biological cells, extracting a single cell from the suspension, holding the extracted single cell from the suspension, measuring a first electrical response of the held single cell, step-wised mechanical aspirating the held single cell to form a mechanically deformed cell, and measuring an electrical response of the held single cell after each step of mechanical aspirating. The cancerous state of the single cell is determined based on the changes in the measured electrical responses.

Abstract: A method for metastasis diagnosis, including adhering a plurality of Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells (HUVECs) on an array of electrodes patterned on a substrate to cover the array of electrodes by HUVECs, measuring an initial electrical signal from each electrode of the array of electrodes, introducing a metastatic-suspicious sample onto the substrate and measuring a set of time-lapse electrical signals from the array of electrodes. Each electrode has an On/Off two-state, including an On state for an entirely-covered electrode by a HUVEC and an Off state for a partially-covered electrode by a HUVEC. Diagnosing metastasis responsive to detecting a state change from On to Off for at least one electrode of the array of electrodes.

Abstract: A method for detecting status of biological cells is disclosed. The method includes culturing a plurality of biological cells on a working electrode of an electrochemical biosensor, changing extracellular acidity of the plurality of cultured biological cells by adding an acidic solution onto the working electrode, monitoring an electrochemical response of the plurality of cultured biological cells by monitoring a cyclic voltammetry (CV) diagram from the plurality of cultured biological cells and/or a differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) diagram from the plurality of cultured biological cells, and detecting a status of the plurality of cultured biological cells within one of three status groups including healthy cells, non-metastatic cancer cells, and metastatic cancer cells based on the monitored electrochemical response.

Abstract: A method for detecting a metastasis state of biological cells is disclosed. The method includes seeding a plurality of biological cells onto an array of electrodes of an electrical cell-substrate impedance sensor (ECIS) by dropping a cell suspension including the plurality of biological cells in a cell culture medium onto the array of electrodes, forming a plurality of cultured biological cells attached onto the array of electrodes by maintaining the ECIS in an incubator, reducing pH value of an extracellular media around the plurality of cultured biological cells to a pH value between 6.2 and 6.

Abstract: A method for detection and monitoring a spreading stage of a biological cell for cancer diagnosis is disclosed. The method includes steps of removing biological cell lines from a material; culturing the cell lines via maintaining the removed biological cell lines in an appropriate medium at a controlled set of conditions; seeding the cultured biological cells lines on silicon nanowire electrode arrays of an electrical cell-substrate impedance sensor (ECIS); and measuring an electrical impedance of the seeded biological cell lines to detect and monitor a spreading state of the seeded biological cell lines for cancer diagnosis.

Abstract: A method for detection and monitoring a therapeutic effect of a cancer treatment drug is disclosed. The method includes steps of removing a malignant biological cell lines from a tumor; culturing the removed biological cell lines in a controlled set of conditions; seeding the cultured biological cell lines on silicon nanowire electrode arrays of an electrical cell-substrate impedance sensor (ECIS); adding a cancer treatment drug to the seeded biological cell lines to treat the seeded biological cell lines; and measuring an electrical impedance of the treated biological cell lines for detection and monitoring a therapeutic effect of the cancer treatment drug.

Abstract: A system for diagnosing metastasis in a metastatic-suspicious sample, including: a bio-chip, an electrical signal extraction board and a processor. The bio-chip includes a biosensor including a substrate, an array of electrodes, where the array of electrodes is patterned on the substrate and at least one Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cell (HUVEC) which is adhered on the substrate and on the array of electrodes forming a biological trap for a metastatic cell. A metastatic-suspicious sample may be introduced onto the bio-chip allowing for diagnosis of metastasis by monitoring the time-lapse electrical signals that are recorded by the processor.

Abstract: A method for detection and monitoring a spreading stage of a biological cell for cancer diagnosis is disclosed. The method includes steps of removing biological cell lines from a material; culturing the cell lines via maintaining the removed biological cell lines in an appropriate medium at a controlled set of conditions; seeding the cultured biological cells lines on silicon nanowire electrode arrays of an electrical cell-substrate impedance sensor (ECIS); and measuring an electrical impedance of the seeded biological cell lines to detect and monitor a spreading state of the seeded biological cell lines for cancer diagnosis.

Abstract: A method for detection and monitoring a therapeutic effect of a cancer treatment drug is disclosed. The method includes steps of removing a malignant biological cell lines from a tumor; culturing the removed biological cell lines in a controlled set of conditions; seeding the cultured biological cell lines on silicon nanowire electrode arrays of an electrical cell-substrate impedance sensor (ECIS); adding a cancer treatment drug to the seeded biological cell lines to treat the seeded biological cell lines; and measuring an electrical impedance of the treated biological cell lines for detection and monitoring a therapeutic effect of the cancer treatment drug.

Abstract: A biosensor for single cell analysis is disclosed. The biosensor includes a substrate, an array of electrodes, and a passivation layer. The substrate includes a roughened surface, where the array of electrodes is patterned on the roughened surface. Each electrode includes a distal tip and a proximal end. The passivation layer is deposited on top of the biosensor and includes a microwell around the distal tip of an electrode. A single cell is trapped within the microwell and adhered onto the distal tip of the electrode for further single cell analysis.

Abstract: A method for metastasis diagnosis, including adhering a plurality of Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells (HUVECs) on an array of electrodes patterned on a substrate to cover the array of electrodes by HUVECs, measuring an initial electrical signal from each electrode of the array of electrodes, introducing a metastatic-suspicious sample onto the substrate and measuring a set of time-lapse electrical signals from the array of electrodes. Each electrode has an On/Off two-state, including an On state for an entirely-covered electrode by a HUVEC and an Off state for a partially-covered electrode by a HUVEC. Diagnosing metastasis responsive to detecting a state change from On to Off for at least one electrode of the array of electrodes.

Abstract: A single-cell-based electromechanical method for cancerous state detection including the steps of preparing a suspension of individually suspended biological cells, extracting a single cell from the suspension, holding the extracted single cell from the suspension, measuring a first electrical response of the held single cell, step-wised mechanical aspirating the held single cell to form a mechanically deformed cell, and measuring an electrical response of the held single cell after each step of mechanical aspirating. The cancerous state of the single cell is determined based on the changes in the measured electrical responses.

Abstract: An electrical probe configured to measure an electrical response from a biological cell includes a microwire having a sharpened tip, a catalyst layer formed on the sharpened tip of the microwire, and an array of nanotube electrodes vertically aligned on the catalyst layer.

Abstract: A method for detection and monitoring a therapeutic effect of a cancer treatment drug is disclosed. The method includes steps of removing a malignant biological cell lines from a tumor; culturing the removed biological cell lines in a controlled set of conditions; seeding the cultured biological cell lines on silicon nanowire electrode arrays of an electrical cell-substrate impedance sensor (ECIS); adding a cancer treatment drug to the seeded biological cell lines to treat the seeded biological cell lines; and measuring an electrical impedance of the treated biological cell lines for detection and monitoring a therapeutic effect of the cancer treatment drug.

Abstract: An electrical cell-substrate impedance sensor (ECIS) includes a substrate; a catalyst layer formed on the substrate; and a plurality of nanowire electrodes array grown on the catalyst layer. The plurality of nanowire electrodes are configured to measure an electrical response of a biological cell.

Abstract: A method for detection and monitoring a spreading stage of a biological cell for cancer diagnosis is disclosed. The method includes steps of removing biological cell lines from a material; culturing the cell lines via maintaining the removed biological cell lines in an appropriate medium at a controlled set of conditions; seeding the cultured biological cells lines on silicon nanowire electrode arrays of an electrical cell-substrate impedance sensor (ECIS); and measuring an electrical impedance of the seeded biological cell lines to detect and monitor a spreading state of the seeded biological cell lines for cancer diagnosis.