A Review of Electrical Impedance Characterization of Cells for Label-Free and Real-Time Assays

The aim of this review is to discuss label-free and real-time assays characterizing the electrical impedance of cells for biomedical and pharmacological applications. Electrical impedance measurements can be used to non-destructively monitor cellular behavior by analyzing the electrical cell-substrate impedance, which is determined by cellular morphology and distribution on the sensing electrode. Cellular electrical impedance measurements can be used to analyze the effects of various therapeutic agents, nanoparticles, naturally derived bioactive compounds, chemotaxins, or other stimulants on cellular cytotoxicity, motility, migration, invasion, and proliferation. This method is becoming increasingly widespread, with applications ranging from basic studies of the cell cycle, cell signaling, chronic disease, and pathophysiological mechanisms to smart cell monitoring and high-throughput screening, which are required by the pharmacological industry.