Evaluation of Cancer Cell Invasion Ability Based on Electrochemical Impedance

Cancer metastasis is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths, with the ability of cancer cells to invade blood vessels or lymphatic systems, determining their metastatic potential. Therefore, the rapid and accurate assessment of cell invasiveness is crucial. Current methods, such as the Transwell assay and fluorescent labeling, are complex, invasive, and may disrupt the physiological state of live cells. In this study, we introduce an electrochemical impedance-based method for evaluating cancer cell invasiveness, combining Transwell and microfluidic technologies to monitor the invasion process in a dynamic environment. A stable microfluidic chip with 30 μm interdigital electrodes was developed, optimized for HeLa cell detection. We identified 1 kHz as the optimal frequency for achieving the maximum impedance resolution of cancer cell invasiveness. By correlating the impedance response of Z_cells/Z_no-cells with invasiveness, we established a reliable electrochemical model. This model was validated with a hydrogen peroxide cytotoxicity assay, showing a high correlation with optical staining and a minimal error of 1.89%, underscoring its potential for drug efficacy prediction. The proposed method offers rapid detection, low cost, and requires no manual intervention, making it an efficient and reliable tool for assessing cancer cell invasiveness in therapeutic research.