Innovative electrode and chip designs for transendothelial electrical resistance measurements in organs-on-chips
Muriel A Holzreuter1, Loes I Segerink1
1BIOS Lab on a Chip group, MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Twente, The Netherlands. m.a.holzreuter@utwente.nl.
Lab on a Chip
|January 2, 2024
Summary
This review explores organs-on-chips (OoC) and transendothelial electrical resistance (TEER) measurements for studying biological barriers. Integrated electrodes in OoC enhance barrier function monitoring and reproducibility.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Cell Biology
- Microfluidics
Background:
- Epithelial and endothelial barriers are crucial for organ function by regulating substance passage.
- Organs-on-chips (OoC) are advanced in vitro models for studying these biological barriers.
- Transendothelial electrical resistance (TEER) is a key non-invasive, label-free method to assess barrier integrity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review electrode and channel designs for TEER measurements in OoC.
- To explain the theory and practice of TEER measurements in in vitro systems.
- To highlight state-of-the-art integrated electrodes and alternative designs for OoC.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on electrode and channel designs for TEER in OoC.
- Explanation of TEER measurement principles and in vitro applications.
- Analysis of current technologies and emerging trends in integrated electrodes for OoC.
Main Results:
- Directly integrated electrodes in OoC enable continuous barrier monitoring.
- Fixed electrode integration significantly improves TEER measurement reproducibility.
- Various chip and electrode designs are being developed to optimize TEER measurements in OoC.
Conclusions:
- Integrated electrodes are vital for advancing TEER measurements in OoC.
- Further innovation in chip and electrode design is needed to overcome current challenges.
- Optimized TEER measurements in OoC will enhance the study of biological barriers.
