ECIS_Cultureware_Disposable_Electrode


The ECIS Cultureware, disposable electrode arrays consist of gold film electrodes delineated with an insulating film and mounted on a 20 mil optically clear Lexan* polycarbonate substrate. The eight well top assembly is made of polystyrene. The gold layer is sufficiently thin to allow microscopic observation of the cells using a standard inverted tissue culture microscope. Each well has a gold electrode at the base, which is 250 µm in diameter and has a surface area for cell attachment and growth of 0.9 cm². The well holds a maximum volume of about 500 microliters. The electrode array is placed in an array holder located in the incubator.

We maintain a large supply of arrays for shipment from our facility. When arrays are ordered, a final oxygen plasma etching procedure is used to both clean the gold surfaces and to sterilize the arrays. They are then packed and mailed on the same day via two day Federal Express. Credit cards are accepted. For more detailed theory and use of the electrode arrays please visit the Theory section of this website. Eight Well arrays-1 electrode 8W1E (8 wells, 1 electrode per well) ECIS array has one active electrode per well (250 µm diameter).

Eight Well arrays-10 electrodes 8W10E (8 wells, 10 electrodes per well) ECIS array consist of 10 active electrodes (each 250 µm diameter), electrically in parallel.

The 10 electrode per well arrays have the following advantages: (1) The 10 electrode arrays average the ECIS response over ten times the number of cells observed using a single electrode well giving a more statistically relevant result. (2) The arrays sample the ECIS response over different spatial regions of the well bottom. This means that differences in experimental values resulting from uneven inoculation density or from convection flow disturbances along some areas the well bottom tend to be averaged out. (3) With these arrays, the micromotion behavior of the cells, although a measurement of importance in many ECIS experiments, is smoothed out. This can be of importance in experiments where micromotion sometimes obscures the general response of a cell layer to the addition of an active agent. These arrays will not be as useful in other cases: (1) The single electrode wells give a larger voltage signal for a given current; this higher single to noise ratio could be important if high sensitivity is important in your measurement of cell response. (2) Fluctuating impedance signals as a means to detect and study cell motion will be enhanced with single electrode measurements. (3) Study of single cells or populations of very few cells will be facilitated with the single electrodes.
8NC1E (eight wells, custom, with one electrode per well) 8NC10E (eight wells, custom, with 10 electrodes per well)
ECIS-Taxis Arrays These special arrays are used in a patented ECIS assay to monitor the chemotactic and chemokinetic response of cells. A description of the assay, developed at The University of Connecticut by Drs. Michael Lynes and David Knecht, can be found in the following article: Hadjout, N. Laevsky, G., Knecht, D.A. and Lynes, M.A., "Automated Real-Time Measurement of Chemotactic Cell Motility" BioTechniques 31: 1130-1138 (November 2001)
ECIS Test Array The ECIS test array is used to verify that ECIS electronics, cabling and connections are functioning properly.
Storage of ECIS Cultureware™, Disposable Electrode Arrays The final step in the manufacturing process of the arrays involves exposure of the slides to an oxygen plasma that both cleans the electrodes and sterilizes the chambers and lids. (This step also renders both the substrate and the polystyrene walls of the well very hydrophilic or wettable.) It is best to order electrode arrays in quantities such that they are not stored for periods of many months. We recommend storage for up to two months.