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Multi-frequency single cell electrical impedance measurement for label-free cell viability analysis
Jianwei Zhong1, Dahou Yang, Yinning Zhou
1Pillar of Engineering Product Development, Singapore University of Technology and Design, 8 Somapah Road, Singapore 487372, Singapore. aiye@sutd.edu.sg.
The Analyst
|February 23, 2021
Summary
This study introduces a non-destructive, label-free impedance method to assess cell viability. This high-throughput technique accurately distinguishes live from dead cells without staining, offering a safer alternative for biological research.
Area of Science:
- Biophysics
- Cell Biology
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Cell viability assessment is crucial for biological research and medical applications.
- Conventional staining methods are often cytotoxic, laborious, and complex.
- Label-free, non-toxic methods are needed for accurate cell viability analysis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a label-free, non-destructive impedance-based approach for high-throughput cell viability assessment.
- To introduce and utilize the complex opacity spectrum for enhanced discrimination of live and dead cells.
- To validate the technique against established methods like flow cytometry.
Main Methods:
- Developed a novel impedance-based assay to characterize multiple electrical cellular phenotypes.
- Introduced the concept of the complex opacity spectrum for improved cell discrimination.
- Analyzed impedance data across optimized frequency ranges for membranous and cytoplasmic phenotypes.
- Tested the method on homogenous and heterogeneous cell samples, including mixed live/dead populations.
Main Results:
- Successfully discriminated between live and dead cells in various experimental conditions.
- Achieved high-throughput analysis (>1000 cells/min) with label-free, non-destructive measurements.
- The complex opacity spectrum enhanced the differentiation of cell viability.
- Validated results against fluorescence-based flow cytometry with high accuracy (∼1% difference).
Conclusions:
- The impedance-based single-cell phenotyping technique offers accurate and consistent cell viability analysis.
- This label-free, high-throughput method provides a non-toxic alternative to traditional staining.
- The approach has broad potential applications in biology and medicine for cell health monitoring.
