Finite Element Analysis for Single Cell Temperature Measurement Using PZT-Integrated Micro-capacitive Sensor

Analysis at a cellular level is an integral aspect that gives a clear understanding of a single cell’s health condition as well as its internal metabolism. However, the field of genetics revealed nothing on single cell temperature analysis. In this paper, we proposed a noble technique for single cell temperature measurement using lead zirconate titanate (PZT) integrated microcapacitive sensor. The microcapacitive sensor has been modelled numerically and validated based on the current literatures. The sensor has been optimised by using parabolic geometry and integrated with PZT material for optimal separation between the sensor plates without having contact with the cell under investigation. The sensitivity of the PZT material integrated with the sensor was obtained as 0.0729 VmN-1. Similarly, Saccharomyces cerevisiae cell has been modelled numerically and validated based on compression test experiment and Kedem-Katchalsky constitutive equation for fluid flow in a cell. 11.0381±0.0057 Nm-1 and 108.9301±0.0084 MPa for stiffness and young’s modules were obtained respectively. The PZT-integrated microcapacitive sensor and the Saccharomyces cerevisiae cell have been assembled for non-invasive temperature measurement. 0.5416±3.5581×10-3 nF and 0.7582±5.1366×10-3 mFcm-2 were obtained for capacitance and dielectric constant value respectively for the Saccharomyces cerevisiae cell at normal atmospheric pressure which corresponds to 37 0C when a voltage of 1.0000 mV has been applied to the sensor. Saccharomyces cerevisiae cell dielectric constant of 1.5700×10-3±7.500×10-4 mFcm-2 has been obtained for each 5 0C change in temperature. Using the value above and interpolation technique the temperature of any single Saccharomyces cerevisiae cell can be obtained accurately. Temperature plays a vital role for characterising the health condition of the cell. In the future, the technique be a more effective and accurate supplement for the current biochemical method used disease diagnosis at cellular level