Cell culture imaging using microimpedance tomography

We present a novel, inexpensive, and fast microimpedance tomography system for two-dimensional imaging of cell and tissue cultures. The system is based on four-electrode measurements using 16 planar microelectrodes (5 mum x 4 mm) integrated into a culture chamber. An Agilent 4294A impedance analyzer combined with a front-end amplifier is used for the impedance measurements. Two-dimensional images are obtained using a reconstruction algorithm. This system is capable of accurately resolving the shape and position of a human hair, yielding vertical cross sections of the object. Human epithelial stem cells (YF 29) are also grown directly on the device surface. Tissue growth can be followed over several days. A rapid resistivity decrease caused by permeabilized cell membranes is also monitored, suggesting that this technique can be used in electroporation studies.