Calibration-free, high-precision, and robust terahertz ultrafast metasurfaces for monitoring gastric cancers

Optical sensors, with great potential to convert invisible bioanalytical response into readable information, have been envisioned as a powerful platform for biological analysis and early diagnosis of diseases. However, the current extraction of sensing data is basically processed via a series of complicated and time-consuming calibrations between samples and reference, which inevitably introduce extra measurement errors and potentially annihilate small intrinsic responses. Here, we have proposed and experimentally demonstrated a calibration-free sensor for achieving high-precision biosensing detection, based on an optically controlled terahertz (THz) ultrafast metasurface. Photoexcitation of the silicon bridge enables the resonant frequency shifting from 1.385 to 0.825 THz and reaches the maximal phase variation up to 50 degrees at 1.11 THz. The typical environmental measurement errors are completely eliminated in theory by normalizing the Fourier-transformed transmission spectra between ultrashort time delays of 37 ps, resulting in an extremely robust sensing device for monitoring the cancerous process of gastric cells. We believe that our calibration-free sensors with high precision and robust advantages can extend their implementation to study ultrafast biological dynamics and may inspire considerable innovations in the field of medical devices with nondestructive detection.

Automated summary

Optical sensors have great potential for biological analysis and early disease diagnosis. However, the current calibration process introduces measurement errors. This study proposes a calibration-free sensor based on optically controlled terahertz metasurface, achieving high-precision biosensing detection and eliminating measurement errors, which can be used for monitoring the cancerous process of gastric cells.