Highly sensitive detection of cancer cells by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy

A simple method based on electrochemical impedance spectroscopy using a gold electrode modified with folic acid-functionalized gold nanoparticles was used to detect folate receptor-rich HeLa cells with high sensitivity. The electrochemical impedance of the cytosensor was linear in two concentration ranges of HeLa cells, ranging from 6 × 100 to 1 × 103 and 1 × 103 to 1 × 105 cells mL−1. The detection limit for HeLa cells was 6 cells mL−1. This method could be significant for future applications in early stage cancer diagnosis.

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► The gold electrode was modified with folic acid functionalized gold nanoparticles.
► The gold electrode detected HeLa cells by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy.
► The detection limit for HeLa cells reached 6 cells mL−1.
► This method could be of significance in early-stage diagnosis of cancer.