Single-Cell Electrical Modulation Using a Microwave Metastructure
Abstract
Microwave at GHz frequency has a wavelength of a few centimeters, enabling deep tissue penetration. It can be wirelessly delivered, which was already widely utilized in communications in complex enviroment. Therefore, microwave promises a new valuable biotronics for wireless non-invasive bio-modulation. In common sense, microwave with a wavelength at centimeter scale and a spatial resolution diffraction-limited to half wavelength is impossible to enable high-precision cell modulation. Here, we break this conventional thinking through rational design and validation of a biocompatible microwave metastructure (MM) to enable single cell modulation. The building block of the MM is a resonator, acting as a resonant antenna. The resonator couples to the microwave wirelessly at a resonant frequency determined mainly by the dimension of the resonator. The resonator concentrates microwave and produces a localized and amplified electrical field over tens of microns. This localized microwave field allows for bio-modulation at ultrahigh spatial resolution. We will develop a biocompatible microwave metastructure (BMM) through designing an electronic MM and further packaging it into a highly biocompatible biomaterial, such as silk and polydimethylsiloxane. The long-term goal is to develop the BMM for future in vivo animal studies and human application in the fields.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Jun 25, 2021
- Source ID
- W911NF2110132
Entities
People
- Chen Yang
Organizations
- Army Contracting Command
- Boston University
- United States Army