Determination of cell concentration in 3D cell culture construct based on electrical impedance measurement by on-chip vertical electrodes

Onsite determination of cell concentration in 3D cell culture construct is proposed based on electrical impedance measurement through on-chip vertical electrodes embedded in the 3D cell culture chamber. Cells were encapsulated in agarose gel and cultured in the 3D cell culture chamber. A pair of vertical electrodes was fabricated at the opposite sidewalls of the culture chamber for performing electrical impedance measurement. Electric field penetrated through the cells/agarose construct and the cell concentration in the construct can be estimated by the impedance change. In this study, cell concentrations of 10⁴, 10⁵, and 10⁶ cells/ml can be determined directly without altering the cell property.