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Chiu WC, Chen WL, Lai YT, Hung YH, Lo CM. Cell-Electrode Models for Impedance Analysis of Epithelial and Endothelial Monolayers Cultured on Microelectrodes. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 24:4214. [PMID: 39000992 PMCID: PMC11244256 DOI: 10.3390/s24134214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2024] [Revised: 06/21/2024] [Accepted: 06/27/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024]
Abstract
Electric cell-substrate impedance sensing has been used to measure transepithelial and transendothelial impedances of cultured cell layers and extract cell parameters such as junctional resistance, cell-substrate separation, and membrane capacitance. Previously, a three-path cell-electrode model comprising two transcellular pathways and one paracellular pathway was developed for the impedance analysis of MDCK cells. By ignoring the resistances of the lateral intercellular spaces, we develop a simplified three-path model for the impedance analysis of epithelial cells and solve the model equations in a closed form. The calculated impedance values obtained from this simplified cell-electrode model at frequencies ranging from 31.25 Hz to 100 kHz agree well with the experimental data obtained from MDCK and OVCA429 cells. We also describe how the change in each model-fitting parameter influences the electrical impedance spectra of MDCK cell layers. By assuming that the junctional resistance is much smaller than the specific impedance through the lateral cell membrane, the simplified three-path model reduces to a two-path model, which can be used for the impedance analysis of endothelial cells and other disk-shaped cells with low junctional resistances. The measured impedance spectra of HUVEC and HaCaT cell monolayers nearly coincide with the impedance data calculated from the two-path model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei-Chih Chiu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 11221, Taiwan; (W.-C.C.); (W.-L.C.)
| | - Wei-Ling Chen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 11221, Taiwan; (W.-C.C.); (W.-L.C.)
| | - Yi-Ting Lai
- Research Center for Applied Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan;
| | - Yu-Han Hung
- Department of Neurology, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Chun-Min Lo
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 11221, Taiwan; (W.-C.C.); (W.-L.C.)
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Ugodnikov A, Persson H, Simmons CA. Bridging barriers: advances and challenges in modeling biological barriers and measuring barrier integrity in organ-on-chip systems. LAB ON A CHIP 2024; 24:3199-3225. [PMID: 38689569 DOI: 10.1039/d3lc01027a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
Biological barriers such as the blood-brain barrier, skin, and intestinal mucosal barrier play key roles in homeostasis, disease physiology, and drug delivery - as such, it is important to create representative in vitro models to improve understanding of barrier biology and serve as tools for therapeutic development. Microfluidic cell culture and organ-on-a-chip (OOC) systems enable barrier modelling with greater physiological fidelity than conventional platforms by mimicking key environmental aspects such as fluid shear, accurate microscale dimensions, mechanical cues, extracellular matrix, and geometrically defined co-culture. As the prevalence of barrier-on-chip models increases, so does the importance of tools that can accurately assess barrier integrity and function without disturbing the carefully engineered microenvironment. In this review, we first provide a background on biological barriers and the physiological features that are emulated through in vitro barrier models. Then, we outline molecular permeability and electrical sensing barrier integrity assessment methods, and the related challenges specific to barrier-on-chip implementation. Finally, we discuss future directions in the field, as well important priorities to consider such as fabrication costs, standardization, and bridging gaps between disciplines and stakeholders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alisa Ugodnikov
- Translational Biology & Engineering Program, Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research, Toronto, ON M5G 1M1, Canada.
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3G9, Canada
| | - Henrik Persson
- Translational Biology & Engineering Program, Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research, Toronto, ON M5G 1M1, Canada.
| | - Craig A Simmons
- Translational Biology & Engineering Program, Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research, Toronto, ON M5G 1M1, Canada.
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3G9, Canada
- Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3G8, Canada
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Chebotarev O, Ugodnikov A, Simmons CA. Porous Membrane Electrical Cell-Substrate Impedance Spectroscopy for Versatile Assessment of Biological Barriers In Vitro. ACS APPLIED BIO MATERIALS 2024; 7:2000-2011. [PMID: 38447196 DOI: 10.1021/acsabm.4c00114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/08/2024]
Abstract
Cell culture models of endothelial and epithelial barriers typically use porous membrane inserts (e.g., Transwell inserts) as a permeable substrate on which barrier cells are grown, often in coculture with other cell types on the opposite side of the membrane. Current methods to characterize barrier function in porous membrane inserts can disrupt the barrier or provide bulk measurements that cannot isolate barrier cell resistance alone. Electrical cell-substrate impedance sensing (ECIS) addresses these limitations, but its implementation on porous membrane inserts has been limited by costly manufacturing, low sensitivity, and lack of validation for barrier assessment. Here, we present porous membrane ECIS (PM-ECIS), a cost-effective method to adapt ECIS technology to porous substrate-based in vitro models. We demonstrate high fidelity patterning of electrodes on porous membranes that can be incorporated into well plates of a variety of sizes with excellent cell biocompatibility with mono- and coculture set ups. PM-ECIS provided sensitive, real-time measurement of isolated changes in endothelial cell barrier impedance with cell growth and barrier disruption. Barrier function characterized by PM-ECIS resistance correlated well with permeability coefficients obtained from simultaneous molecular tracer permeability assays performed on the same cultures, validating the device. Integration of ECIS into conventional porous cell culture inserts provides a versatile, sensitive, and automated alternative to current methods to measure barrier function in vitro, including molecular tracer assays and transepithelial/endothelial electrical resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oleg Chebotarev
- Translational Biology & Engineering Program, Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research, Toronto, ON M5G 1M1, Canada
- Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3G8, Canada
| | - Alisa Ugodnikov
- Translational Biology & Engineering Program, Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research, Toronto, ON M5G 1M1, Canada
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3G9, Canada
| | - Craig A Simmons
- Translational Biology & Engineering Program, Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research, Toronto, ON M5G 1M1, Canada
- Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3G8, Canada
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3G9, Canada
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Yagati AK, Chavan SG, Baek C, Lee D, Lee MH, Min J. RGO-PANI composite Au microelectrodes for sensitive ECIS analysis of human gastric (MKN-1) cancer cells. Bioelectrochemistry 2023; 150:108347. [PMID: 36549174 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioelechem.2022.108347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2022] [Revised: 11/19/2022] [Accepted: 11/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Microelectrode-based cell chip studies for cellular responses often require improved adhesion and growth conditions for efficient cellular diagnosis and high throughput screening in drug discovery. Cell-chip studies are often performed on gold electrodes due to their biocompatibility, and stability, but the electrode-electrolyte interfacial capacitance is the main drawback to the overall sensitivity of the detection system. Thus, here, we developed reduced graphene oxide-polyaniline-modified gold microelectrodes for real-time impedance-based monitoring of human gastric adenocarcinoma cancer (MKN-1) cells. The impedance characterization on modified electrodes showed 28-fold enhanced conductivity than the bare electrodes, and the spectra were modeled with proper equivalent circuits to extrapolate the values of circuit elements. The impedance of both time-and frequency-dependent measurements of cell-covered modified electrodes with equivalent model circuits was analyzed to achieve cellular behavior, such as adhesion, spreading, proliferation, and influence of anti-cancer agents. The normalized impedance at 41.5 kHz (|Z|norm 41 kHz) was selected to monitor the cell growth analysis, which was found linear with the proliferation of adherent cells along with the influence of the anticancer drug agent on the MKN-1 cells. The synergistic effects and biocompatible nature of PANI-RGO modifications improved the overall sensitivity for the cell-growth studies of MKN-1 cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ajay Kumar Yagati
- School of Integrative Engineering, Chung-Ang University, 84 Heukseok-ro, Dongjak-gu, Seoul 06974, Republic of Korea
| | - Sachin Ganpat Chavan
- School of Integrative Engineering, Chung-Ang University, 84 Heukseok-ro, Dongjak-gu, Seoul 06974, Republic of Korea
| | - Changyoon Baek
- School of Integrative Engineering, Chung-Ang University, 84 Heukseok-ro, Dongjak-gu, Seoul 06974, Republic of Korea
| | - Donghyun Lee
- School of Integrative Engineering, Chung-Ang University, 84 Heukseok-ro, Dongjak-gu, Seoul 06974, Republic of Korea.
| | - Min-Ho Lee
- School of Integrative Engineering, Chung-Ang University, 84 Heukseok-ro, Dongjak-gu, Seoul 06974, Republic of Korea.
| | - Junhong Min
- School of Integrative Engineering, Chung-Ang University, 84 Heukseok-ro, Dongjak-gu, Seoul 06974, Republic of Korea.
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Kasiviswanathan U, Balavigneswaran CK, Kumar C, Poddar S, Jit S, Sharma N, Mahto SK. Aluminium Oxide Thin-Film Based In Vitro Cell-Substrate Sensing Device for Monitoring Proliferation of Myoblast Cells. IEEE Trans Nanobioscience 2021; 20:331-337. [PMID: 33755569 DOI: 10.1109/tnb.2021.3068318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
We demonstrate cell-substrate interaction on aluminium oxide thin-film in metal-insulator-metal structure followed by the change in dielectric characteristics of Al2O3 as a function of progression of cellular growth. The theoretical calculation of the fabricated biosensor reveals that the changes in the intrinsic elemental parameters are mainly attributed to the cell-induced behavioural changes.
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Optimization, fabrication, and characterization of four electrode-based sensors for blood impedance measurement. Biomed Microdevices 2021; 23:9. [PMID: 33449205 DOI: 10.1007/s10544-021-00545-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/05/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
In this work, an optimized, non-invasive four electrode-based impedimetric sensors have been designed, fabricated, and characterized for measuring the impedance of a biological cell. The impedimetric sensors having four mono-polar electrodes were fabricated utilizing the photolithography technique with gold as the electrode material. Furthermore, the impedance of the electrolyte/electrode interface was simulated by optimizing different parameters, including applied voltage, PBS thickness, and diameter, using COMSOL Multiphysics software for a frequency range of 100 Hz to 1 MHz. Next, the impedance of the fabricated device was measured experimentally using the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) technique. Then, the COMSOL data was equated with the impedance obtained from the fabricated devices to realize the feasibility and error percentage (RSE < 5%) of the sensor. The equivalent circuit model for the measured impedance data of PBS was obtained utilizing the ZsimpWin software. Besides, the mathematical relations between the impedance, phase angle and the area of the electrode were interpreted for the fabricated impedimetric sensors. Later on, a real blood sample was also characterized to demonstrate the feasibility and the validity of the proposed technique and the fabricated devices in cell diagnosis.
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