Dielectric characterization of breast cancer cell lines using microwaves

This paper is an approach towards the microwave characterization of breast cancer cells. In vitro models of breast cancer were prepared in the laboratory using immortalized cell lines and a standard culture medium. Dielectric properties of these cultured breast cancer cell lines were measured at frequencies from 200 MHz to 13.6 GHz using open-ended coaxial cable technique. Four different types of breast cancer cell lines were examined: MCF7, MDA-MB-231, HS578T and T47D. For all the samples, it was observed that the permittivity decreases and conductivity increases with increase in frequency.