High throughput electric stimulation circuitry for cellular biology
R.G. Houtman (TU Delft - Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science)
A. Savva – Mentor (TU Delft - Bio-Electronics)
WA Serdijn – Mentor (TU Delft - Bio-Electronics)
Michiel Pertijs – Graduation committee member (TU Delft - Electronic Instrumentation)
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Abstract
Electric stimulation can be used to get cells to behave in all kinds of ways. Examples include getting them to move, proliferate, excrete chemicals, or stop doing any of these things. However, finding the optimal stimulation parameters is a tedious process of trial and error which is made difficult by the equipment that is currently in use. It is often bulky, expensive and only allows for a limited number of experiments to be done simultaneously. To combat this issue, this work aims to create a circuit that allows the simultaneous stimulation of as many different channels of cells as possible without causing accidental damage to the cells through harmful electrochemical reactions. To this end, a printed circuit board is designed to fit underneath a 48-well plate. It can set the waveform timing to be a square wave with variable frequency, duty cycle and amplitude with different settings for the positive and negative part of stimulation. To create this device, research is done to the state of art of the current devices used to stimulate cells. As well as the viability of stainless-steel as a cheaper alternative reference electrode material with respect to platinum and Ag/AgCl electrodes. While the stimulation part of the design works, the charge balancing circuit does not and requires more work.