Method for making contact to cells present in a liquid environment above a substrate

• US 6,989,089 B2
• Filed: 10/26/2001
• Issued: 01/24/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cytocentrics AG (Cytocentrics Bioscience GmbH)
• Original Assignee: NMI Naturwissenschaftliches und Medizinisches Institut an an der Universität Tübingen. (NMI Natural and Medical Sciences Institute at the University TÜBINGEN)
• Inventors: Stelzle, Martin, Nisch, Wilfried, Stett, Alfred, Egert, Ulrich
• Primary Examiner(s): NOGUEROLA, ALEXANDER STEPHAN
• Application Number:
  US10/045,380
• Publication Number:
  US 20020074227A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,551 Days
• Field of Search: 204/403.01, 204/450, 204/451, 204/601, 435/287.1, 205/777.5
• US Class Current: 205/777.5
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 23/12 Well or multiwell plates C12M25/04 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 35/02 Electrical or electromagnetic means, e.g. for electroporation or for cell fusion
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 41/46 of cellular or enzymatic activity or functionality, e.g. cell viability
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/763 Bioluminescence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/48728 Investigating individual cells, e.g. by patch clamp, voltage clamp investigating individual particles in general G01N15/10

Abstract

A microelement device has a plurality of microelements, which may be configured as microelectrodes, arranged on a substrate and adapted for making contact to cells present in a liquid environment. The cells are guided onto the microelectrodes, are isolated or are mechanically attracted to the microelectrodes. A negative-pressure force or a hydrodynamic force may be applied on the cells. Also described are a method for making contact to the cells, and a method for manufacturing the microelement device is disclosed.

Claims

1. A method for making contact to cells present in a liquid environment above a substrate, said method comprising the steps of:

creating electrical microelements;

creating a contact between said cells and said microelements; and

creating a force for guiding the cells onto the microelements, wherein said force is exerted as a negative-pressure.

2. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the cells are stimulated via microelements configured as microelectrodes.

3. The method as defined in claim 1, which further comprises the step of sensing potentials of the cells via the microelements which are configured as microelectrodes.

4. The method as defined in claim 3, which further comprises the step of measuring the light absorption of the cells via the microelements which are configured as microphotodiodes.

5. A method for making contact to cells present in a liquid environment above a substrate, said method comprising the steps of:

creating electrical microelements;

creating a contact between said cells and said microelements; and

creating a force for guiding the cells, wherein the force is exerted as a hydrodynamic force that is exerted by electroosmosis, in particular by way of an electrolyte flow generated by electroosmosis.

6. The method as defined in claim 5, wherein the cells are stimulated via microelements configured as micro-electrodes.

7. The method as defined in claim 5, which further comprises the step of sensing potentials of the cells via the microelements which are configured as microelectrodes.

8. A method for making contact to cells present in a liquid environment above a substrate, said method comprising the steps of:

creating electrical microelements;

creating a contact between said cells and said microelements; and

creating a force for guiding the cells, wherein the force is exerted as an attractive force on the basis of electrical charging of the cells and an electric field acting in the direction of the microelements.

9. The method as defined in claim 8, wherein the cells are stimulated via microelements configured as micro-electrodes.

10. The method as defined in claim 8, which further comprises the step of sensing potentials of the cells via the microelements which are configured as microelectrodes.

11. A method for making contact to cells present in a liquid environment above a substrate, said method comprising the steps of:

creating electrical microelements;

creating a contact between said cells and said microelements;

creating a force for guiding the cells; and

sensing the luminescence of the cells via the micro elements which are configured as microphotodiodes.