DEVICE AND METHOD FOR THE MONITORING OF THE MOVEMENT OF CELLS

摘要

The present invention relates to a device for the monitoring of very small movements of cells, in particular when undergoing chemotaxis. The device is based on electrode units (3) comprising a number of electrodes for creating electrical fields surrounding an optical detector (2), e.g. an integrated PIN diode. A gradient of growth factor (stimulant) is obtained in a stimulant gradient chamber (1) with various methods, including the use of microfluidic methods or patterning a hydrogel layer on top of the electronics. The device is capable of measuring very small movements of cells (C) and so is ideally suited to fast sensitive chemotaxis assays.