A programmable culture platform for hydrostatic stimulation and in situ pH sensing of lung cancer cells with organic electrochemical transistors

Abstract

In this work, we present a programmable dynamic cell culture stimulation platform designed to work in a CO 2 incubator, compatible with a standard multi-well plate. An epithelial lung cell culture can be mechanically stimulated with a cyclic increase of the hydrostatic pressure inside the culture chamber in the range 1–12 kPa, trying to mimic the human respiration rate. An in situ live pH-monitoring system based on PEDOT:PSS Organic ElectroChemical Transistors was also designed, fabricated and characterized, in order to merge both the stimulated cell culture and the pH sensing in a compact platform. • A culture chamber for the stimulation of lung cells by means of the cyclic increaseof its internal pressure was fabricated. • The tightness of the chamber and its reliability have been tested. • PEDOT:PSS based Organic ElectroChemical Transistors were fabricated by using photolithographic steps. • OECTs were tested in NaCl 0.1 M solution and in cell culture medium, showing good electrical response. • Cell proliferation tests were carried out inside the chamber, showing identical proliferation with respect to control. • pH tests have been carried out with OECTs, showing high sensitivity below pH 4.