Agilent xCELLigence Real Time Cell Analysis for Cardiomyocyte Function

RTCA continuously monitors live-cell health, behavior, and function using label-free impedance technology. It measures cell number, morphology, adhesion, proliferation, cytotoxicity, barrier function, migration, invasion, stem cell differentiation, and GPCR responses in real time without dyes or labels.

 A low-voltage electrical field is applied across gold microelectrode biosensors at the bottom of each well. As cells attach and spread, they impede current flow. This change is converted into a Cell Index, reflecting cell number, morphology, and attachment quality.

 xCELLigence E-Plates contain interdigitating gold microelectrode arrays that cover most of the well surface. A small electrical potential is applied across the electrodes, and changes in impedance caused by attached cells are continuously monitored to provide real-time kinetic data.

 As cells attach, spread, and divide on the biosensor surface, the Cell Index increases. Continuous impedance monitoring captures the complete proliferation curve instead of a single endpoint measurement.

RTCA uses CIM-Plates with microporous membranes and gold biosensors. As cells migrate through the membrane toward a chemoattractant, impedance increases, allowing real-time measurement of migration and invasion rates.

When cells round up, detach, or undergo lysis, their contact with the biosensors decreases, causing a drop in Cell Index. This enables continuous monitoring of cell death kinetics rather than relying on endpoint assays.

Adherent target cells generate the impedance signal, while nonadherent immune cells contribute little to it. As immune cells kill the targets, impedance decreases, allowing continuous quantification of target-cell cytolysis over time.

Drug treatment alters cell proliferation, morphology, and attachment, producing characteristic changes in Cell Index. Real-time monitoring enables kinetic analysis and time-dependent IC50 calculations while providing insight into drug mechanisms.

Unlike endpoint methods such as Chromium-51 release, LDH, MTT, or flow cytometry, RTCA provides continuous kinetic data. It is label-free, non-radioactive, non-invasive, quantitative, and requires minimal hands-on processing while measuring actual target-cell responses.

 The Cell Index reflects cell number, proliferation, morphology, spreading, adhesion, and viability. Changes in any of these cellular properties are detected immediately, enabling continuous monitoring of cell health and functional responses.

 In most applications, no. E-Plates feature biocompatible gold biosensors and are ready for direct cell seeding. Precoating is only required for specialized extracellular matrix or barrier-function studies.

Nonadherent cells cannot be monitored directly because they have minimal interaction with the biosensors. However, xCELLigence Immunotherapy (IMT) kits can immobilize suspension cells using antibodies, enabling real-time analysis of immune and hematological cell assays.

Yes. xCELLigence RTCA systems continuously monitor virus-induced cytopathic effects and cell death, providing a label-free, reproducible alternative to traditional plaque assays for virus titer determination and antiviral research.