We have designed and realised a new type of microsystem for the electrical characterisation of epithelial cell layers for biomedical diagnostic purposes. We have used deep plasma and other micromachining procedures for the fabrication of vias and microfluidic channels in silicon and glass substrates. Miniaturised cell culture devices have been realised by gluing nano-porous polycarbonate membranes in between two structured wafers and by combining these with glass wafers to provide integrated microfluidic channels. We have characterised the impedimetric properties of our microsystem, demonstrated epithelial cell layer growth within it, and have done the initial electrical characterisations of epithelial cell layers. We believe that our devices will open new perspectives for cell-based diagnostic applications, especially for those where available cell quantities pose a limiting factor. q 2000 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.
We have realised a microsystem for the culture and electrical characterisation of epithelial cell layers for cell-based diagnostic applications. The main goal of this work is to achieve both cell culture and impedimetric and potentiometric characterisation on a single device. The miniaturised cell culture system enables the uses of scarce epithelial cells, as obtained from transgenic mice or from human biopsies. The device is completely modular and offers high flexibility: a polycarbonate membrane used as cell substrate is glued in between two moulded Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) layers to form a sandwich, which is placed between two stacks, containing the microfluidic channels and integrated measurement electrodes. The polycarbonate membrane sandwich can be removed, replaced or analysed at any time. We have characterised the impedimetric properties of our microsystem, demonstrated epithelial cell layer growth within it, and have done the initial electrical characterisation of epithelial cell layers.
We have designed and realised a new type of microsystem for the electrical characterisation of epithelial cell layers for biomedical diagnostic purposes. We have used deep plasma and other micromachining procedures for the fabrication of vias and microfluidic channels in silicon and glass substrates. Miniaturised cell culture devices have been realised by gluing nano-porous polycarbonate membranes in between two structured wafers and by combining these with glass wafers to provide integrated microfluidic channels. We have characterised the impedimetric properties of our microsystem, demonstrated epithelial cell layer growth within it, and have done the initial electrical characterisations of epithelial cell layers. We believe that our devices will open new perspectives for cell-based diagnostic applications, especially for those where available cell quantities pose a limiting factor. q 2000 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.
In this paper the simple accelerometers based on PZT thin films were developed and cbaracterized. The functions of seismic mass and spring are given by a boss loaded cantilever structure. The strain of the cantilever is detected by a Pb(Zr,Ti)O, thin film. A 2 mm long and 0.8 mm wide cantilever yielded a response of 0.6 mV/g' in the frequency interval between 1 and 600 Hz. With Af = 600Hz a limit of about lmg* at lHz, and less above this frequency, was observed. The response predicted by the analytical model is close to the actual response of the device. A working miniaturized accelerometer prototype could be thus demonstrated.
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