Four Versus Two-Electrode Measurement Strategies for Cell Growing and Differentiation Monitoring Using Electrical Impedance Spectroscopy

Abstract

The aim of this work is to provide optimization tools for cell and tissue engineering processes through continuous monitoring of cell cultures. Structural cell properties can be obtained from non-destructive electrical measurements by using electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). EIS measurements on monolayer animal cell cultures are usually performed using a two-electrode strategy. Because of this, the measurement is very sensitive to the electrode covering ratio and to the degree of adherence of cells. Of course, these parameters give useful information but can mask the behaviour of the cell layer above the electrodes. In a previous work, preliminary measurements with commercial microelectrode structures were performed with simulated grow processes using the settlement of cell suspensions with two and four microelectrode strategies to validate the technique. In this work, real cell growths of Vero cells are described and the resulting EIS biomass density estimators are compared to cell counts. The four-electrode impedance spectra are fitted to the Cole-Cole impedance model and the time course of their parameters are extracted and studied.

Process control in cell culture technology using dielectric spectroscopy

“…The state of infection was clearly reflected by the impedance signal and spectra correlated to cell/cell or cell/substrate junctions, determined by off-line methods. Furthermore, a correlation to different MOI was detected [Bragos et al, 2006]. In summary, the field of DS of cell cultures is rapidly expanding.…”

“…DS may also be useful in more fundamental aspects such as research on the differentiation of stem cells. Structural information can be obtained using integrated electrodes allowing the monitoring of growth and differentiation [Bragos et al, 2006].…”

“…DS can be useful for cultivation of virus producing cell lines [Bragos et al, 2006]. The detection of small virus concentrations (down to a MOI of 0.0006) of herpes simplex infecting Vero cells (green monkey kidney) is possible using a specially designed electrode based chip and DS.…”

Multifrequency simultaneous bioimpedance measurements using multitone burst signals for dynamic tissue characterization

“…Magnitude and phase accuracy has been validated with the standard desviation obtained from the measurements. Also a preliminary dynamic scenario have been characterized based on yeast cell suspension settlement ( fig.2) over interdigitated 4-electrode located at the bottom of a small bioreactor [13]. Multitone parameters used were the same as described before.…”

Implantable bioimpedance monitor using ZigBee

“…In this last topic, a non-functional myocardium area (eg an old infarction scar) is intended to regenerate by using myocardial cell precursors derived from stem cells. Our group has developed a technique for in-vitro cell culture monitoring using EIS with interdigitated microelectrodes in a 4-electrode configuration to separate cell-growing and A. Bayés-Genís is with the Cardiology Service of the Hospital de la Santa Creu I Sant Pau, C. Sant Antoni Maria Claret 167, 08025 Barcelona, Spain (e-mail: abayesgenis@santpau.cat) cell-adhesion [8].…”