Label-free and Multi-parametric Monitoring of Cell-based Assays with Substrate-embedded Sensors

This thesis describes novel substrate embedded physical sensors that can be used to monitor different types of cell-based assays non-invasively and label-free. The sensors described provide integrative information of the cells under study with an adaptable time resolution (ranging from milliseconds to days). This information about the dynamic cell response to chemical, physical or biological stimuli defines a new paradigm in fundamental biomedical research.The author, Maximilian Oberleitner, describes approaches in which the cells are directly grown on different sensor surfaces (gold-film electrodes, shear wave resonators or dye-doped polymer films). This approach, with the reacting cells in particularly close proximity and contact with the sensor surface, is key to a remarkable sensitivity, opening the way for a variety of new applications. This thesis not only introduces the fundamentals of each approach, but it also describes in great detail the design principles and elucidates the boundary conditions of the new sensors.

Aceasta teza descrie noi senzori fizici incorporati substrat care pot fi utilizati pentru a monitoriza diferite tipuri de teste pe baza de celule, neinvaziv si fara etichete. Senzorii descrisi ofera informatii integrative ale celulelor studiate cu o rezolutie de timp adaptabila (variind de la milisecunde la zile).