Application of terahertz spectroscopy in the detection of cell and tissue / 中华检验医学杂志

ABSTRACT

As a novel,label-free and non-invasive detection modality,terahertz(THz,1THz=1012 Hz)spectroscopy has been widely used in various areas.For instance,in the biomedical field,it has great potentials to provide real-time scanning of living cells and tissues due to its unique advantages.Significant achievements have been reached in cell detection, related to bacterial identification, cancer cell characterization and blood cell detection.In tissue detection, the THz spectroscopy can be used to provide real-time scanning of living tissues and fast diagnosis.Furthermore, a single system which integrated THz spectroscopy and THz imaging would be able to collect information more sensitive and comprehensive. However,the clinical adaption of THz spectroscopy is still a controversial issue attributed to some intrinsic limitations and technical bottlenecks.In this article, both the application of THz spectroscopy in cell and tissue detection and the existing challenges and strategies to accelerate clinical applications were reviewed comprehensively.