An Innovative Real-Time Cell Viability Analysis: A Cutting-Edge Flexible Bioimpedance Sensor

There are many compounds used to treat cancer, but still, only 20% of proposed anticancer agents have been commercialized after clinical trials due to serious side effects and unsatisfactory results. To screen potential drugs precisely and quickly, this study develops a flexible bioimpedance sensor. The sensor positively detects the half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of drugs in real time by analyzing phase angle changes during cell mortality. The best results are achieved using a probe separation of A12B34 at logarithmic frequencies of 163 Hz and 77.87 kHz. At these two frequencies, there is a linear relationship with the phase angle at 0% and 50% of the dead cells. Dividing the phase angle at the two frequencies shows a 17.98% change in the phase angle, which allows self-correction and insensitivity to the number of cells. A custom phase angle measurement device is developed for detection at 163 Hz and 77.87 kHz, respectively. This study develops a novel sensor that is precise and fast and allows high-throughput analysis to detect the inhibition of cancer in real time. This sensor is an alternative to traditional chemical detection methods because it is faster, cheaper, and more accurate.