An In Vitro Electric Field Exposure Device with Real-Time Cell Impedance Sensing

Electric fields are known to affect cell growth and viability. Using electric field treatments for cancer therapy and regenerative medicine is actively researched because of the noninvasive, efficient and low-price nature of electric field exposure. To monitor the effects of such treatments on cells, chemical assays are conventionally used after treatment which are usually time-consuming, expensive, offline and destructive to the sample under study. Electric cell impedance sensing has recently been shown to provide comparable monitoring capability for chemical treatments nondestructively. Here, we report a novel device that provides electric field treatment with online cell-substrate impedance sensing, both combined through a single microelectrode array. Design, numerical simulations and dosimetry, microfabrication and in vitro tests are described, and the electronic systems realized to flexibly control electric field exposure amplitude and timings are explained. The fast, nondestructive performance of the resulting stimulus–ECIS system is successfully confirmed in comparison with chemical assays. Also a real experiment is reported showing the prevention of cancerous cell growth by 26% with exposure to a weak EF at 150 kHz frequency. The fast, online response of the device signifies its potential to become a popular standard setup for experimental cell research.