Dynamic stimulation and monitoring of fibrosis-related cell populations at the single cell level during homeostasis and induced stress

Cells play a crucial role in human development, homeostasis, repair, and disease. During these processes, local and systemic cell populations receive cues from their microenvironment which combined determine each cell’s behaviour and fate decision. The microenvironment is composed of physicochemical, electrochemical, and cellular elements, which could originate from local or distant tissues, or from sources external to the body. The combined result of these elements provides stimulatory cues to steer cell behaviour during homeostasis and disease.

This master thesis project aims to utilize imec’s multimodal nanotechnology platforms for the in vitro stimulation and monitoring of physiologically relevant cell populations during homeostasis and upon induced stress. Specifically, Imec’s complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) micro electrode array (MEA) chips are developed with high electrode densities and small electrode sizes, thus allowing specific stimulation and monitoring at the single cell level. These systems will be utilized in combination with a biomimetic extracellular matrix, allowing a modular system where chemical, electrical as well as mechanical stimulation can be combined. Electrical impedance is a powerful technique to assess cellular properties non-invasively. In parallel, intracellular recordings to evaluate resting membrane potential (RMP) is desired to explore the properties of non-electrical cells and ion channels during homeostasis and stress. In addition, novel microfluidic platforms can be introduced as an additional source for stimulation and biomimicry. The student will characterize the cell culture on chip and perform dynamic stimulation and monitoring measurements. Also, data analysis and reporting will be part of the tasks.