A new concept to measure cell proliferation using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy

In our laboratory, we recently developed a new technique to measure cell proliferation that is based on infrared spectro-photometry and the density of cell culture medium. The fluid exchange between intra and extra cellular environments is the key to our method. Using this technique, we found that cell proliferation assessment may be performed much faster than presently existing methods, using two separate pieces of equipment (a cell culture incubator and an interferometer). We confirmed the viability of our method using five different cell lines, breast cancer cells (BT20), mouse normal embryonic fibroblast (NEF) as well as those expressing E6/E7 onco-proteins of human papillomavirus (HPV) type 16, and a human cervical cancer cell line (HeLa). Based on our findings, we propose the design of a mini-incubator allowing cell culture as well as infrared spectra collection of the culture medium, as an accessory to the FTIR work bench, which would become a promising arrangement for continuous cell proliferation monitoring. Moreover, the use of the collected culture medium will be highly efficient in terms of reducing both experimental time and cost.