Products

Option: ECIS Wound Healing Module

In the past, the ECIS instrumentation has been used exclusively to monitor the activities of living cells using electric fields too weak to be detected by the cells. We now offer a new module, fully integrated into the normal ECIS instrument and designed to electrically alter the cells.

The Elevated-Field Applications Module is directly incorporated into the ECIS Model 1600R case. When called up by the software, the electronics automatically applies an elevated current pulse to the cell covered electrode. Depending upon the parameters selected by the user, these high fields can be used to electroporate or wound the cells. These invasive actions are only directed at the small population of cells in contact with the active ECIS electrode, and once these incursions are completed, the system returns to its normal mode to follow the fate of the altered cells.

Cell Wounded with ECIS MDCK cells were grown to confluence and electrically wounded using the Elevated Field Module with the ECIS system. This micrograph shows the electrode 20 hours after healing; note the radial pattern in the cell population about the electrode resulting from the inward cell migration.

Electroporation

We have recently evaluated the conditions required for electroporation of small molecules*, and beta testing is now underway to assess ECIS electroporation using DNA constructs.

Wound Healing Module

Wound healing

The ECIS wound healing assay (Patent pending) is a novel way to replace traditional wound-healing / cell migration measurements. Instead of disrupting the cell layer mechanically and following the migration of cells to "heal" the wound with a microscope, we employ electrical signals to both wound and then monitor the healing process. This can be accomplished without opening the door of the incubator and provides quantitative cell migration data in real time.

ECIS cell wounding chart

In the figure, BSC cells were grown to confluence in four ECIS wells before data was collected. At the point indicated, a potential of a few volts was applied for several seconds killing the cells and dropping the impedance to that of a cell-free electrode (the two control wells did not receive the high field). During the next few hours, neighboring cells migrate into the wounded area (250 µm diameter) replacing their dead cohorts, and the electrodes return to impedance values of the controls. Experiments have been conducted showing that the healing rate is strongly dependent upon cell type, medium composition, and the protein adsorbed to the substrate.

Download the Electroporation/Wounding brochure (.pdf)