Fieldbus controlled live support system for cell-based biohybrid measuring systems

Abstract

In biological research, the determination of the vitality of cells and its interactions with substances is important. To measure the vital parameters of living cells, the Intelligent Mobile Lab (IMOLA) with the BioChip-C has been developed. With this modular high-content screening system the metabolic cell activity can be measured label free and in real time. This way it is possible to determine the cellular respiration, the extracellular acidification, the adhesion and the morphology of cells in-vitro. On the basis of the obtained bioelectronic signals the dynamics of the cells' reaction on certain drugs can be studied. The fields of application are environmental monitoring, toxicology, cell biology and pharmacology. Several IMOLA systems can operate simultaneously to form a parallel and redundant assay. To improve the reproducibility and to minimize possible malfunctions, a high grade of automation is required. The individual modules are crosslinked to each other and controlled by a personal computer. The communication is realized via the Controller Area Network (CAN), an established industrial field bus system with the advantage of high data transfer rates, low fault liability and automatic error correction. A live support system supplies the cell culture with nutrient or drug media. The medium selection is accomplished by integrated valves and occurring air bubbles in the measuring chamber are avoided by a bypass system. To guarantee a sterile working environment, the design of the fluidic system is enclosed and inert. A high precision peristaltic pump is used to transport the medium. For controlled environmental conditions, the system is mounted in an incubator. An integrated sensor on the cell chip continuously detects the temperature in the cell chamber. With the introduced high-content screening system, a userfriendly, reliable and highly automatic test-platform is available. It enables standardized and reproducible assays. © 2009 Springer-Verlag.