Synchronous detection of mechanical-electrical properties of 4T1 breast tumor tissues based on piezoelectric...

Traditional tumor detection relies on invasive biochemical analysis, which poses risks of biological toxicity and tissue damage. In contrast, label-free techniques based on biophysical properties(such as mechanical stiffness and electrical impedance)offer a promising non-invasive alternative. However, existing biophysical properties detection methods are largely limited to single-modal measurements, capable of assessing only either mechanical or electrical properties individually, which results in limited tumor detection rates and restricts their clinical applicability. Although combined electro-mechanical measurements exist, they are often limited to microscopic scales or fixed tissue specimens. To overcome these limitations, this study proposes a method for synchronously detecting the mechanical and electrical properties of fresh ex vivo tissues. Utilizing a piezoelectric-driven system, dynamic mechanical loading (1 Hz) was applied to tumor tissue from 4T1-bearing mice and normal mammary tissue from healthy BALB/c mice. The mechanical response and high-frequency electrical impedance (1 MHz) were acquired simultaneously via integrated force/displacement sensors and concentric electrodes. Experimental results show that tumor tissue exhibits distinct viscoelastic features, with significantly higher complex modulus and damping coefficient than normal tissue. Concurrently, the electrical impedance of tumor tissue (276.4 Ω) was significantly lower than that of normal tissue (587.2 Ω). This multi-parameter synchronous detection method effectively discriminates tumor from normal tissue and demonstrates strong potential as a rapid, label-free tool for intraoperative assessment and real-time monitoring.