On-Chip Capacitance Sensing for Cell Monitoring Applications

摘要: We describe an integrated circuit for sensing the substrate coupling capacitance of anchorage-dependent living cells in a standard culture environment. Capacitance is measured using charge redistribution response to weak, low frequency electric field excitations. The underlying biophysical phenomenon results primarily from insulating nature cell structure and counterionic polarization surrounding aqueous medium. depends on variety factors related cell, its growth environment supporting substrate. These include membrane integrity, morphology, extracellular ionic concentration, adhesion strength, proximity. indication both interaction between health. sensor uses principle sharing translates sensed values output voltages. chip has been fabricated commercially available 0.5-mum, 2-poly 3-metal CMOS technology. technique does not require direct electrical connection report experiments demonstrating on-chip tracking as well long term monitoring viability vitro