Electric Cell-Substrate Impedance Sensing
ECIS^TM

in cooperation with Applied BioPhysics

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The Electric Cell-substrate Impedance Sensing (ECIS) is an automated method to monitor the cellular behaviour. The ECIS technology allows the observation of e.g. cell proliferation, cell attachment and spreading, motility and much more.

In the system, cells are grown upon small gold film electrodes carrying very weak AC signals. As cells attach and spread upon these electrodes, their insulating membranes block and constrain the current flow resulting in measured variations in the electrode impedance. Any changes in the environment that result in morphological changes of the cell alter the current paths and can be readily detected by the instrument. These changes may be due to the addition of compounds, changes in the physical environment like perfusion, transfections, viral infections and the addition of other cells. All measurements are made continuously, in real-time and without the need for any labels. As the minimal AC currents used in the measurement have no effect upon the cells; the method is totally non-invasive.

For more than 300 scientific publications using the ECIS technology please visit www.biophysics.com.

There are two major systems the ECIS Z and the ECIS Z-Theta. Both systems are available as 16 well systems or 96 well units.

The heart of the ECIS measurement is the electrode-containing array, where cells are cultured. These arrays come as 8 well slides and 96 well plates for higher throughput applications. Holders are available for two eight well slides or a single 96 well plate; both are hosted in an incubator, so cells are kept under ideal cultivation conditions – at all times.

ECIS can be used for many cell-based assays including:

• cell proliferation and migration
  
• measurements of cell attachment and spreading on ECM proteins
  
• wound healing & electroporation
  
• toxicological screenings
  
• cytopathic effects of viral infections
  
• drug uptake studies
  
• measurement of endothelial layer permeability (under flow if desired)
  
• measurements of metastatic potential (cell invasion)
  
• signal transduction / GPCR screens
  

The Z-Theta system can also measure complex impedance at defined AC frequencies, allowing for modelling software to present:

• the barrier function of the cell layer
  
• the averaged cell membrane capacitance
  
• the distance of the cell from its substrate
  

Available in Germany only. For further information please contact us.