Real-time tagless monitoring of cell viability using patch-clamp microdevices

Real-time tagless monitoring of cell viability using patch-clamp microdevices is reported and validated by using fluorescence imaging techniques for the first time. Specifically, human breast cancer cells MDA-MB-231 have been used for these studies. Systematic experiments on these cells found that the impedance change of captured cells by the micro-electrodes is a valid indicator of cell's living or death, which might provide an efficient way to monitor the drug effects on cells, thereby benefiting high throughput drug screen and discovery process.