Live-Cell Imaging with Integrated Capacitive Sensor Arrays

Capacitive imaging is a near-field sensing technique that detects changes in the dielectric properties and geometry of materials above a microelectrode array. Taking advantage of modern integrated circuits, dense capacitive sensing arrays can now be created at the scales of single biological cells. These non-optical imaging arrays offer intriguing possibilities for cell culture monitoring, offering low cost, portability, single-cell resolution, a wide field of view, and co-integration with multiple electrochemical sensing and stimulation modes. Here we review state-of-the-art examples of capacitive imaging arrays and present new demonstrations of all-electrical imaging of growing bacterial cultures.