ECIS Cultureware™ Disposable Electrode Arrays
ECIS Cultureware consists of disposable electrode arrays containing gold film electrodes delineated with an insulating film and mounted on a 20 mil optically clear Lexan* polycarbonate substrate. The well top assembly is made of polystyrene. The gold layer is thin enough to allow microscopic observation of the cells using a standard inverted tissue culture microscope. Each well has a gold electrode at the base, which is 250 µm in diameter and has a surface area for cell attachment and growth of 0.9 cm2. The well holds a maximum volume of about 500 microliters. The ECIS electrode array is placed in an array holder located in the incubator.
The final step in the manufacturing process of the arrays involves exposure of the slides to an oxygen plasma that both cleans the electrodes and sterilizes the chambers and lids. (This step also renders both the substrate and the polystyrene walls of the well very hydrophilic or wettable.)
Array |
Electrodes per Well |
Diameter of Electrode(s) (µm) |
Maximum Number of Cells Measured |
Well Volume (µL) |
8W1E |
1 |
250 |
50 - 100 |
600 |
8W10E |
10 |
250 |
500 - 1000 |
600 |
8W10E+ |
40 |
250 |
1000 - 2000 |
600 |
8WCP Cell Proliferation |
8 |
7.5mm x 0.5mm (linear) |
30,000 |
600 |
961E |
1 |
250 |
50 - 100 |
300 |
9610E+ |
20 |
350 |
1000 - 2000 |
300 |
8W1E DD |
1 |
25, 50, 100, 250 |
varies |
600 |
8W2x1E |
2* |
250 |
50 - 100 |
600 |
8W Chemotaxis |
1 |
250 |
50 - 100 |
600 |
Line Array |
2 |
667µm x 15µm (linear) |
200 - 400 |
600 |
8Wµ1E |
2 |
250 |
100 - 200 |
600 |
2W4x10E |
40 |
250 |
2000 - 4000 |
600 |
8F1E Flow Array |
8* |
250 |
50 - 100 |
100 µL channel volume |
8F10E Flow Array |
8* |
250 |
50 - 100 |
100 µL channel volume |
8W1E (PCB) |
1 |
250 |
50 - 100 |
600 |
8W10E (PCB) |
10 |
250 |
500 - 1000 |
600 |
*Independently addressable.
8W1E
Each of the 8 wells contains a single circular 250μm diameter active electrode. Each well has a substrate area of 0.8 cm2 and a maximum volume of 600μL. On average, with a confluent cell layer, approximately 50 to 100 cells will be measured by the electrode, but even a single cell can be observed.
Potential uses include:
•Cell migration measurements via automated wound healing.
•Studying the effects of agents upon cell motions (micromotion) and cell morphology.
•Exceptional signal to noise ratio allows studies of very sparse cultures (including single cells).
•The single electrode is ideal for correlated microscopy and ECIS experiments.
8W10E
Each of the 8 wells contains ten circular 250 μm diameter active electrodes connected in parallel on a common gold pad. Each well has a substrate area of 0.8 cm2 and a maximum volume of 600 μL. On average, with a confluent cell layer, approximately 500 to 1000 cells will be measured by the electrodes.
Potential uses include:
•Recording the activities of more cells over a larger region of the substrate.
•Studying the effects of agents upon overall morphology changes.
•Reducing fluctuations in impedance due to cell micromotion that may obscure subtle changes in impedance.
•Cell migration via automated wound healing is normally possible, providing an average of 10 identical wounds.
8W10E+
Each of the 8 wells has two sets of 20 circular 250 μm diameter active electrodes located on inter-digitated fingers to provide measurements of cells upon a total of 40 electrodes. Each well has a substrate area of 0.8 cm2 and a maximum volume of 600 μL. On average, with a confluent layer, approximately 2000 to 4000 cells will be measured by the electrodes.
The 10E+ arrays are designed to monitor larger numbers of cells, sampling over the entire bottom of the well. Because of the relatively high number of cells, impedance fluctuations due to micromotion are smoothed out and do not obscure subtle changes in impedance due to the experimental conditions.
Potential uses include:
•Cell-ECM protein interactions.
•Detection of invasion of endothelial cell layers by metastatic cells.
96W1E
Each of the 96 wells in a standard plate configuration contains a single circular 250 μm diameter active electrode. This array has been designed for high throughput assays and performs in a manner identical to the 8W1E standard array. The array is opaque. Each well has a substrate area of 0.3 cm2 and a maximum volume of 300 μl. On average, with a confluent layer, approximately 50 to 100 cells will be measured by the electrode.
As with other 1E arrays, the major use of this array is for the ECIS wound-healing assays where the single small electrode assures the high current pulse will result in complete cell killing.
Only a small population of cells is monitored on the 5 x 10–4 cm2 area of the active electrode. This results in a fluctuating impedance signal due to the randomlike movement of the cells (micromotion). Hence, this array is particularly useful for studying the impedance fluctuation that changes with the exposure of cells to different conditions (for example cytotoxic compounds).
Potential uses include:
•Cell-ECM protein interactions.
•Detection of invasion of endothelial cell layers by metastatic cells.
96W10E+
Each of the 96 wells in a standard plate configuration has 20 active electrodes. Electrode are 350 μm in diameter (this diameter gives the same total electrode area as the 8W10E+). Each well has a substrate area of 0.3 cm2 and a maximum volume of 300 μL. On average, a confluent layer of approximately 2000 to 4000 cells will be measured by the electrodes.
The 10E+ arrays are designed to monitor large numbers of cells, sampling over the entire bottom of the well. Because of the relatively high number of cells, impedance fluctuations due to micromotion tend to be smoothed out and do not obscure subtle changes in impedance due to the experimental conditions. This makes these arrays useful for a variety of applications such as:
Potential uses include:
•Cell-ECM protein interactions.
•Detection of invasion of endothelial cell layers by metastatic cells.
Specialty Arrays
8W1EDD
This array is nearly identical to the 8W1E standard array but the active electrodes come in four different diameters (two wells of each size). Diameters are 250, 100, 50 and 25 μm.
Since the number of cells monitored depends upon the active electrode area, these special arrays are used to monitor fewer cells with higher sensitivity. Each well has a substrate area of 0.8 cm2 and a maximum volume of 600 μL.
8W2x1E
This array is also called the Medusa* array. Each well in this array has two independent single 250 μm diameter active electrodes.The Medusa array is useful for duplicating readings in the same well or to wound/electroporate one electrode while leaving the other as a control within the same well.
When connected to the array holder only the upper four wells are measured. To use the other four wells, the array is turned around and the contact pads at the other end are connected. Each well has a substrate area of 0.8 cm2 and a volume of 600 μL, and with a confluent cell layer, approximately 50-100 cells will cover each electrode.
* As the electrode pattern resembles a many headed snake, the name is taken from Greek mythology and the hair of the infamous Gorgon.
8WCP Cell Proliferation
Each of the 8 wells has two sets of four 7.5mm x 0.5mm rectangular electrodes located on inter-digitated fingers to provide measurements of cells upon a total of 8 large electrodes. Each well has a substrate area of 0.8 cm2 and a maximum volume of 600 µL. On average,
with a confluent cell monolayer, approximately 30,000 to 60,000 cells will be
measured by this electrode configuration.
The 8WCP arrays are designed to monitor larger numbers of cells, sampling over the entire bottom of the well. Because of the relatively high number of cells, impedance fluctuations due to micromotion are almost completely smoothed out and do not obscure subtle changes in impedance due to the experimental conditions.
Recommended for use with Cell Proliferation Assays.
ChemoTaxis
This array is used to monitor the movement of cells in response to chemical gradients and is the array used in chemotaxis measurements first described by Hadjout, N. et al. (2001) Biotechniques 31 (5) 1130. The measuring electrode in this array is a thin gold line between two registry marks.*
Each well has a substrate area of 0.8 cm2 and a maximum volume of 600 μL. On average, with a confluent layer, approximately 50 to 100 cells will be monitored by the electrode.
*The gold line has the same total area as a 250 μm single circular electrode.
Line Array
Each of the 8 wells contains a single linear electrode with dimensions of 667µm x 150µm and an area equal to that of our standard 250µm circular electrodes. Each well has a substrate area of 0.8 cm2 and a maximum volume of 600μL. On average, with a confluent cell layer, approximately 50 to 100 cells will be measured by the electrode, but even a single cell can be observed.
Recommended for use with cell migration measurements via automated wound healing.
8F1E
This is a specialized Flow array with 8 active 250 μm diameter electrodes located in the central region at the base of a flow channel measuring 50 mm long, 5 mm in width and 0.4 mm in height.
The flow array is useful for ECIS measurements of cells under perfused conditions or to mimic the shear stress endothelial cells experience in vivo.
The channel has an area of 2.5 cm2 and a channel volume of 100 μL. On average, a confluent layer of approximately 50 to 100 cells will be monitored by each electrode.
8F10E
This is a specialized Flow array with 8 set of 10 active 250 μm diameter electrodes located in the central region at the base of a flow channel measuring 50 mm long, 5 mm in width and 0.4 mm in height.
The flow array is useful for ECIS measurements of cells under perfused conditions or to mimic the shear stress endothelial cells experience in vivo.
The channel has an area of 2.5 cm2 and a channel volume of 100 μL. On average, a confluent layer of approximately 500 to 1000 cells will be monitored by each set of electrodes.
8Wμ1E
Each of the 8 wells contains two electrodes with an area equal to that of our standard 250µm circular electrodes. Each well has a substrate area of 0.8 cm2 and a maximum volume of 600μL. On average, with a confluent cell layer, approximately 100 to 200 cells will be measured by the electrode, but even a single cell can be observed.
2W4x10E
Each of the 2 circular 25 mm diameter wells contain four independent sets of ten 250 μm diameter active electrodes. This array is useful for duplicating readings in the same well or to wound/electroporate one electrode while leaving the other as a control within the same well.
PCB
Printed Circuit Board (PCB). This array is similar to the standard 8W1E, 8W10E and 8W10E+ but uses a printed circuit board as a base layer.
All surfaces are compatible with cell culture as in the standard array. This economy array is opaque and optical cell observations are limited to reflection microscopy (upper chambers can be removed following ECIS measurements).
Custom Arrays
Custom arrays are alvailable. If you are interested in other electrode sizes and configurations, please contact us. We will be happy to work with you on our specific needs.
How to Order Arrays
We maintain a large supply of arrays for shipment from our facility. When arrays are ordered, a final oxygen plasma etching procedure is used to both clean the gold surfaces and to sterilize the arrays. They are then packed and mailed on the same day via two day DHL. Credit cards are accepted.
It is best to order electrode arrays in quantities such that they are not stored for periods of many months. We recommend storage for up to two months.
For array ordering and questions please contact Catherine Toniatti at (518) 880-6860. You may also send an
email to ctoniatti@biophysics.com or fax your order with contact numbers and all shipping & billing addresses to 518-880-6865.
All arrays can be ordered without upper chambers (NC). Gold films are transparent and the upper chambers can be removed following ECIS measurements to facilitate staining including fluorescence measurements.