Sub-terahertz resonance spectroscopy of biological macromolecules and cells

Tatiana Globus; Aaron Moyer; Boris Gelmont; Tatyana Khromova; Igor Sizov; Jerome Ferrance

doi:10.1117/12.2016108

31 May 2013 Sub-terahertz resonance spectroscopy of biological macromolecules and cells

Tatiana Globus, Aaron Moyer, Boris Gelmont, Tatyana Khromova, Igor Sizov, Jerome Ferrance

Proceedings Volume 8716, Terahertz Physics, Devices, and Systems VII: Advanced Applications in Industry and Defense; 87160N (2013) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2016108
Event: SPIE Defense, Security, and Sensing, 2013, Baltimore, Maryland, United States

Abstract

Recently we introduced a Sub-THz spectroscopic system for characterizing vibrational resonance features from biological materials. This new, continuous-wave, frequency-domain spectroscopic sensor operates at room temperature between 315 and 480 GHz with spectral resolution of at least 1 GHz and utilizes the source and detector components from Virginia Diode, Inc. In this work we present experimental results and interpretation of spectroscopic signatures from bacterial cells and their biological macromolecule structural components. Transmission and absorption spectra of the bacterial protein thioredoxin, DNA and lyophilized cells of Escherichia coli (E. coli), as well as spores of Bacillus subtillis and B. atrophaeus have been characterized. Experimental results for biomolecules are compared with absorption spectra calculated using molecular dynamics simulation, and confirm the underlying physics for resonance spectroscopy based on interactions between THz radiation and vibrational modes or groups of modes of atomic motions. Such interactions result in multiple intense and narrow specific resonances in transmission/absorption spectra from nano-gram samples with spectral line widths as small as 3 GHz. The results of this study indicate diverse relaxation dynamic mechanisms relevant to sub-THz vibrational spectroscopy, including long-lasting processes. We demonstrate that high sensitivity in resolved specific absorption fingerprints provides conditions for reliable detection, identification and discrimination capability, to the level of strains of the same bacteria, and for monitoring interactions between biomaterials and reagents in near real-time. Additionally, it creates the basis for the development of new types of advanced biological sensors through integrating the developed system with a microfluidic platform for biomaterial samples.

Citation Download Citation

Tatiana Globus, Aaron Moyer, Boris Gelmont, Tatyana Khromova, Igor Sizov, and Jerome Ferrance "Sub-terahertz resonance spectroscopy of biological macromolecules and cells", Proc. SPIE 8716, Terahertz Physics, Devices, and Systems VII: Advanced Applications in Industry and Defense, 87160N (31 May 2013); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2016108

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