Millimeter-wave sensor based on a ?/2-line resonator for identification and dielectric characterization of non-ionic surfactants.

ABSTRACT: Studies of biological and artificial membrane systems, such as niosomes, currently rely on the use of fluorescent tags, which can influence the system under investigation. For this reason, the development of label-free, non-invasive detection techniques is of great interest. We demonstrate an open-volume label-free millimeter-wave sensing platform based on a coplanar waveguide, developed for identification and characterization of niosome constituents. A design based on a ?/2-line resonator was used and on-wafer measurements of transmission and reflection parameters were performed up to 110?GHz. Our sensor was able to clearly distinguish between common niosome constituents, non-ionic surfactants Tween 20 and Span 80, measuring a resonance shift of 3?GHz between them. The complex permittivities of the molecular compounds have been extracted. Our results indicate insignificant frequency dependence in the investigated frequency range (3?GHz - 110?GHz). Values of permittivity around 3.0?+?0.7i and 2.2?+?0.4i were obtained for Tween 20 and Span 80, respectively.

SUBMITTER: Rodilla H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4726352 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature