Non-Invasive and Label-Free On-Chip Impedance Monitoring of Heatstroke

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Neurocritical Care
• Cellular Biology

Background:

• Heatstroke (HS) is a critical condition impacting the central nervous system and multiple organs.
• Cell-cell adhesion and permeability are crucial factors in understanding HS pathophysiology.
• Existing methods for monitoring HS progression require enhancement for real-time biological insights.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a biochip-based electrical model for investigating heatstroke.
• To correlate electrical measurements with cellular changes during heatstroke.
• To assess the model's utility in monitoring HS and related biomedical applications.

Main Methods:

• A biochip-based electrical model was utilized to simulate and monitor heatstroke conditions.
• Transendothelial electrical resistance (TEER) and cell index (C_I) were measured.
• Protein and RNA levels of key adhesion molecules (occludin, VE-Cadherin, ZO-1) were analyzed.

Main Results:

• The biochip model demonstrated decreased TEER and C_I values, correlating with reduced cell-cell adhesion.
• Observed electrical changes were consistent with diminished cell permeability.
• Protein and RNA expression analysis confirmed alterations in cell adhesion and permeability markers.

Conclusions:

• The biochip-based electrical model effectively monitors key cellular changes during heatstroke.
• The model provides a valuable tool for studying HS pathophysiology and related cellular processes.
• This approach has potential applications in real-time monitoring for critical care and biomedical research.