We report on a novel impedance spectroscopy measurement and data analysis technique for cytotoxicity testing. The technique combines non-contact measurement with real-time impedance data analysis based on the toxin dose dependency of the outputs, making it suitable for high throughput screening. A multi-electrode array was designed and fabricated such that a standard well plate could be positioned above the electrodes, negating the requirement for bespoke culture wells with integrated electrodes. For cytotoxicity testing, endothelial cells, type ECV304, within the wells were exposed to various concentrations of 3 toxins, dimethyl sulphoxide, cadmium chloride and saponin, which exhibit different modes of action on cells. Impedance spectra were recorded every 30 min over a 24 h period. From the spectra 'toxin maps' were produced which presented the correlation between impedance output and dose of toxin versus frequency and time. The results demonstrated characteristic toxin maps for each toxin and significantly differences between the three toxins studied. Using complementary measurement methods, we showed that these differences in toxin maps related to morphological and physiological changes in the cells due to the differing mode of action of each toxin.

中文翻译：

---

一种非接触式阻抗生物传感系统，用于与细胞毒性测试相关的毒素分类。

我们报告了一种新型的细胞毒性测试的阻抗谱测量和数据分析技术。该技术基于输出的毒素剂量依赖性将非接触式测量与实时阻抗数据分析相结合，使其适用于高通量筛选。设计和制造了多电极阵列，使得可以将标准孔板放置在电极上方，从而无需集成电极定制培养孔。为了进行细胞毒性测试，将孔内的内皮细胞ECV304型暴露于各种浓度的3种毒素，二甲基亚砜，氯化镉和皂苷，它们对细胞表现出不同的作用方式。在24小时内每30分钟记录一次阻抗谱。从光谱“毒素图” 产生了呈现阻抗输出和毒素剂量与频率和时间之间的相关性的产品。结果表明每种毒素的特征性毒素图谱以及所研究的三种毒素之间的显着差异。使用互补的测量方法，我们发现，由于每种毒素的作用方式不同，毒素图谱中的这些差异与细胞的形态和生理变化有关。