Single-Cell Impedance Tomography Using Rolled-Up Microtubular Sensors

Single-cell analysis techniques provide the opportunity to study the cellular heterogeneity that occurs between cells of the same tissue. These methods should ideally be non-destructive and label-free to allow long-term measurements that do not impede with healthy cellular functions. To that end, a miniaturized electrical impedance tomography (µEIT) system is fabricated via rolled-up nanotechnology to study the electrical properties of individual cells. The tube contains an array of 12 electrodes on its interior wall, and its diameter of ca. 30 µm is tuned to fit the size of a cell. First proof-of-concept measurements are carried out with silica and half-metal coated microparticle phantoms. Additionally, the death of a single HeLa cell is monitored with the µEIT device over time. In the future, the system can be applied to study, e.g. the efficiency of drugs or the biocompatibility of materials on a single-cell level.