Development of Bioimpedance Sensors and Measurement System for Biomedical In-Vitro Applications

Bioimpedance analysis is a label-free and easy approach to obtain information on cellular barrier integrity and cell viability more broadly. In this work, we introduce a small, low-cost, portable in vitro impedance measurement system for studies where a shadow-free exposure of the cells is a requirement. It can be controlled by a user-friendly web interface and can perform measurements automated and autonomously at short intervals. The system can be integrated into an existing IoT network for remote monitoring and indepth analyses. A single-board computer (SBC) serves as the central unit, to control, analyze, store and forward the measurement data from the single-chip impedance analyzer. Various materials and manufacturing methods were used to produce a purpose-built lid on top of a modified 24-well microtiter plate in a “do it yourself” fashion. Furthermore, three different sensor designs were developed utilizing anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) membranes and gold-plated electrodes. Preliminary tests with potassium chloride (KCl) showed first promising results.