Detect of orientation of cells by electric impedance: using micro machining

Abstract

The electric impedance was measured related to the controlled orientation of cells in vitro. The parallel line-and-space pattern of micro ridges (0.001 mm height, 0.003 mm width and interval) have been made between a pair of the surface titanium electrodes (1.2 mm interval) at the surface of the scaffold of glass by the photolithography technique. C2C12 (mouse myoblast cell line) was cultured for 4 days on the micro-patterned scaffold in the medium of D-MEM (Dulbeccos Modified Eagle Medium). The electric impedance between electrodes was measured once a day with the sinusoidal electric waves (frequency, 1 Hz - 1 MHz; amplitude, 0.1 V - 5 V). The experimental result shows that electric impedance has frequency characteristic and that the impedance at 0.1 MHz increases with proliferation of myoblasts. The orientation of myoblasts was able to be detected by the impedance between the surface electrodes.