A Quartz Crystal Microbalance Cell-Culture Incubator System

Abstract

A biosensor consists of the immobilized biological recognition element (e.g. antibody, DNA, enzyme, receptor, microorganism, or cell) in intimate contact with a signal transducer (electrochemical, optical, thermal, or acoustic signal) that together permit analysis of chemical properties or quantities. The quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) technique has traditionally been used to monitor mass or thickness of thin films deposited on surfaces either in a gaseous or in a liquid environment. More recently this method has been extended to investigate the process of attachment and spreading of mammalian cells onto the solid electrode of the quartz sensor. Real-time measurements of the shift in resonance frequency and energy dissipation due to changes in mass and viscoelastic properties give quantitative information about the state of the cell adhesion process. We show that the QCM technique is a sensitive method not only to measure quasi-static cell adhesion processes but also dynamic changes of mechanical cell properties. In this innovation, a new cell-based QCM biosensor system which can real-time monitor the adhesion and growth of animal cells will be developed. A cell culture unit for cell to adhesion, spreading and growth will be designed and fabricated. A QCM chip sensor can measure the frequency, amplitude, trans-epithelial resistance, and A/C impedance. These materials were all fabricated under the cell unit to monitor cell growth conditions. An environment control system can offer a constant temperature, a permanent CO2 concentration and a nutrition feed fluid system. Finally, a quartz crystal microbalance cell-culture incubator system can provide the recognizing cell-substrate adhesion and established as a tool for drug discovery and even drug evaluation.