Biosystem for the culture and characterisation of epithelial cell tissues

We have designed and realised a new type of microsystem for the electrical characterisation of epithelial cell layers for biomedical diagnostic purpos es. We have used deep plasma and other micromachining procedures for the fa brication of vias;and microfluidic channels in silicon and glass substrates . Miniaturised cell culture devices have been realised by gluing nano-porou s polycarbonate membranes in between two structured wafers and by combining these with glass wafers to provide integrated microfluidic channels. We ha ve characterised the impedimetric properties of our microsystem, demonstrat ed epithelial cell layer growth within it, and have done the initial electr ical characterisations of epithelial cell layers. We believe that our devic es will open new perspectives for cell-based diagnostic applications, espec ially for those where available cell quantities pose a limiting factor. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.