CELL-BASED BIOSENSORS SUITABLE FOR IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE APPLICATIONS

A sensing methodology is used based on measuring a physical response from a living structure as a result of a chemical compound stimulating this structure on the cellular level. Measurement of the heat response (calorimetry) from a group of pancreatic islets of Langerhans stimulated by glucose is proposed as a glucose biosensor. A novel biosensor concept is proposed acquiring physical response from living cells or cell clusters. In this particular case, membrane impedance of pancreatic B-cells, as a result of glucose stimulated cellular metabolism is used as physical readout. This method of physical assessment is made possible by growing genetically engineered pancreatic beta cells onto a substrate equipped with a set of interdigitated electrodes (IDEs).