Biophysical biomarkers of human erythrocytes for efficient diagnostics of stroke

Abstract

Timely and reliable diagnostics of acute and severe diseases like cancer, stroke and myocardial infarction is of a great importance for human health. Biophysical parameters of the red blood cells (RBC) can be used as biomarkers for early diagnosis together with chemical biomarkers and clinical tests. Compared to the latter, the studies on the blood sample are easier accessible and cheaper. The purpose of the paper is to demonstrate the high sensitivity of the dielectric properties of single RBC to the general chemical composition of the blood plasma due to the disease development and the available medical technique for their measurements based on the clinical studies. Methodology of the study is based on experimental measurements on the blood samples of healthy donors (control group) and patients with ischemic and hemorrhage stroke (experimental group) in the electromagnetic feld of microware frequencies at different temperatures between T=0C and 54C. Results confrmed early noticeable influence of the disease on the real and imaginary part of complex dielectric permittivity of the REC and their membranes than can be easily detected by the microwave dielectric spectroscopy (MDS). The variations in the dielectric parameters tend to zero after a successful treatment that can be used as an additional biomarker of a proper individual treatment of the disease. Practical implications. The MDS method in a range of temperatures can be recommended for early diagnostics of the disease severity and estimation of the treatment efciency. The method is fast, simple and cheap, and it needs a sample of the venous blood only. Value/originality. The effectiveness of the proposed method is based on a series of experimental studies and theoretical modeling and gives a new insight to the importance of dielectric properties of RBC that are the most movable cells in our bodies which carries on their membranes the influences of all biochemical markers produced by the disease.