Multimodal intelligent transwell system

Abstract

This work is the first demonstration of a 3D printed, modular, multimodal electrochemical-sensor-integrated, transwell system for monitoring tissue culture and molecular signaling, in vitro. Integral to the design of this platform is a porous membrane hosting an in vitro tissue culture with cell-interfaced electrochemical sensors. Interfacial -electrical cell surface impedance sensing (ECIS) electrodes and -cyclic voltammetric electrodes (CV) are used to monitor epithelial barrier formation and basolateral molecular release respectively. Such interfacial sensor-integrated tissue culture platform enables unprecedented access and provides temporal information that conventional transwells cannot furnish. We use this platform to uncover signaling events occurring along the gut-microbiome-brain-axis (GMBA).