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Published on: September 19, 2017
CMOS biosensor system for on-chip cell culture with read-out circuitry and microfluidic packaging
David Welch1, Jennifer Blain Christen
1School of Biological And Health Systems Engineering, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287, USA.
Summary
A novel CMOS chip integrates ion-sensitive field-effect transistors (ISFETs) and interdigitated electrode structures (IDESs) for real-time monitoring of on-chip cell cultures, enabling pH and cell proliferation analysis.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Microelectronic Engineering
- Cell Biology
Background:
- On-chip cell culture monitoring requires integrated sensing technologies.
- Existing methods may lack real-time, multi-parameter analysis capabilities.
- Advancements in CMOS technology enable miniaturized biosensor development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To design and characterize a novel CMOS chip for on-chip cell culture monitoring.
- To integrate sensors for simultaneous pH and cell proliferation detection.
- To develop a packaging technique suitable for cell culture environments.
Main Methods:
- Designed a 1.5 mm × 3 mm CMOS chip using a 0.5 µm process.
- Integrated ion-sensitive field-effect transistors (ISFETs) for pH sensing.
- Incorporated interdigitated electrode structures (IDESs) for impedance-based cell sensing.
- Developed a packaging strategy using a flexible PCB substrate.
Main Results:
- The chip integrates ISFETs and IDESs for dual-parameter sensing.
- Preliminary amplifier characterization shows 48 dB gain, 1.65 kHz bandwidth, and 72 dB CMRR.
- A packaging technique was successfully demonstrated for integration into cell culture systems.
Conclusions:
- The designed CMOS chip offers a promising platform for on-chip cell culture monitoring.
- The integrated sensors and packaging technique facilitate real-time analysis of cellular behavior.
- This technology has potential applications in drug discovery and cell-based assays.
