(521h) Real Time Monitoring of Endothelial Cell Permeability Using Trans Endothelial Electrical Resistance

Under normal physiological conditions, vascular endothelial cells (ECs) are exposed to a variety of flow conditions and shear rates. These natural flows greatly augment cellular phenotype, as classically exhibited by the flow adapted configuration that is seen in large vessel endothelial cells under steady state shear conditions. However, despite this understanding, the majority of EC cell culture studies are conducted under static conditions. The reason for this isn't due to the importance of static models, but rather the relative lack of reproducibility and expense associated with establishing a flow system for studying ECs. The goal of the current study is to develop a microfluidic device that monitors the permeability of an endothelial cell monolayer using ?real-time? measurements. Specifically, low temperature co-fired ceramic (LTCC) materials were used to construct the device containing a viable cell culture grown on gold electrodes. The use of LTCC materials and processing methods allows for a durable, rigid, uniform substrate with a high precision, reproducible fabrication techniques. This device also incorporates trans-endothelial electrical resistance (TEER) measurements allowing for ?real time? monitoring of cell permeability during growth and during treatment with cell-permeability modifying agents. Results have demonstrated that human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) grow and reach confluency on the gold electrodes adsorbed with fibronectin. TEER measurements in the microfluidic device as a function of cell growth and after treatment with permeability-modifying agents will be presented and compared to results obtained using a static assay.