Cellular Assays with Multiparametric Bioelectronic Sensor Chips

Abstract

During recent years, sensor chip-based systems have been developed which monitor functional changes of living cells. Key elements of such cellular assays are silicon or glass chips with integrated sensors for physico-chemical parameters, i.e. pH, pO2, electric impedance and temperature. Analysis of these primary parameters yields information about cell metabolism, cell growth and adhesion, and cell morphological changes. The operation principles of individual sensor types are described together with examples of experimental results.