A Versatile Terahertz Chemical Microscope and Its Application for the Detection of Histamine

Abstract

Terahertz waves have gained increasingly more attention because of their unique characteristics and great potential in a variety of fields. In this study, we introduced the recent progress of our versatile terahertz chemical microscope (TCM) in the detection of small biomolecules, ions, cancer cells, and antibody–antigen immunoassaying. We highlight the advantages of our TCM for chemical sensing and biosensing, such as label-free, high-sensitivity, rapid response, non-pretreatment, and minute amount sample consumption, compared with conventional methods. Furthermore, we demonstrated its new application in detection of allergic-related histamine at low concentration in buffer solutions.

All-in-one terahertz taste sensor: integrated electronic and bioelectronic tongues

“…[50][51][52][53][54] The terahertz sensing plate can be functionalized with ion-sensitive membranes, DNA aptamers, organic molecules, proteins, and antibodies. 53,55 By measuring and visualizing the distribution of the electrochemical potential on the semiconductor sensing plate, the TCM can provide detailed information about chemical reactions. Furthermore, the TCM is a label-free, highly sensitive technology that can detect chemical and physical changes in the terahertz sensing plate.…”

Label-Free Measurement of CD63 Positive Extracellular Vesicles Using Terahertz Chemical Microscopy

“…In recent years, our group has used terahertz microscopy to visualize chemical reactions and applied it to the detection and evaluation of substances. For example, it has been used to rapidly assess the binding of certain substances to cancer cells, providing an innovative approach to the evaluation, detection, and analysis of substances and playing an important role in many areas of research, including the early diagnosis of cancer and the visualization and detailed information on the chemical reactions and behavior of substances in vivo. ,,− This technique uses terahertz chemical microscopy (TCM) to visualize the distribution of chemical reactions, such as antigen–antibody reactions, without labels or fluorescent markers. Antigen–antibody reactions were observed as the first demonstration of the label-free immunoassay using TCM. , In other words, the interaction between antigens and antibodies can be directly observed without the need to modify or label them with additional molecules.…”

Terahertz aptasensor for dopamine neurochemical detection

“…Therefore, with facile surface functionalization, a wide variety of chemical substances or biomolecules can be measured simultaneously within the range of the sensing plate. 31,32) To detect dopamine, a DNA aptamer was investigated as a recognition element owing to its several advantages, including easy handling, rapid preparation, low immunogenicity, high safety, higher binding potency compared to traditional antibodies, and conformational changes that occur upon bonding to target molecules, making it a highly promising sensing material. 14,19) Figures 1(a) and 1(b) show the construction of the THz aptasensor and functionalization procedure, respectively.…”