CellSpectrometer CSM 2100
Impedance Spectrometry & TEER – Assessing Cell Culture Tissue Integrity, Permeability, and Barrier Function
The CellSpectrometer CSM 2100 is a compact yet powerful impedance spectrometer, available with 12 or 24 measurement channels. It enables the simultaneous evaluation of tissue barriers across multiple cell cultures with remarkable speed and efficiency across various applications. Measure the full impedance spectrum (1 Hz to 200 kHz) in just 100 seconds or obtain TEER readings in as little as 15 seconds.
What are Impedance Spectrometry and TEER?
Tissue barriers, composed of epithelial and endothelial layers, play crucial roles in an organism’s functioning, including protection, filtration, secretion, absorption, and excretion. The epithelial layer covers organs and cavities, while the endothelial layer lines blood vessels, both maintaining barrier integrity through tight and adherent junctions. These barriers are not only vital for body functions but are also essential in testing the safety of pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and chemicals.
Impedance spectrometry is a technique used to measure the resistance of a cell tissue layer to an alternating current over various frequencies. This resistance reflects the tissue’s permeability and integrity by determining how much electrical signal is blocked.
Transepithelial/Transendothelial Electrical Resistance (TEER) is a specific application of impedance spectrometry, used to investigate cell cultures in vitro. TEER measures the electrical resistance of a cell layer at two distinct frequencies (12.5 Hz and 1000 Hz), providing insights into cell layer permeability:
In a typical TEER measurement, cultured tissue in inserts is surrounded by electrolyte mediums inside a well plate. Electrodes placed inside and outside the inserts pass an alternating current, and real-time voltage, current, and phase shift measurements are used to calculate electrical resistance. This method effectively assesses the integrity of cellular barriers.
Advantages of the CellSpectrometer CSM 2100
The CellSpectrometer CSM 2100, developed in collaboration with the prestigious Fraunhofer Institute and backed by funding from the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), is a state-of-the-art impedance spectrometer designed for efficiency and precision. With its compact design and 12 or 24 measurement channels, it enables simultaneous evaluation of multiple cell cultures with exceptional speed and ease.
Key Features:
- Full Spectrum Analysis: Conducts measurements across 48 discrete frequencies, spanning from 1 Hz to 200 kHz (logarithmically distributed), with an additional measurement point at 12.5 Hz. All analyses for multiple cell cultures are completed within 100 seconds.
- Rapid TEER Measurements: Measures TEER at two distinct frequencies (12.5 Hz and 1000 Hz) in only 15 seconds.
This advanced instrument optimizes the study of cellular barriers, ensuring reliable and efficient assessments of impedance and TEER values. It’s an impressive tool for research and testing in various scientific and industrial applications
- The CellSpectrometer CSM 2100 features patented Titanium Nitride (TiN)-coated electrodes that significantly enhance performance compared to traditional stainless steel or gold-coated electrodes. These electrodes improve the signal-to-noise ratio dramatically, shifting it from 1:10 to an impressive 10:1. Additionally, they reduce resistance and phase shift caused by the instrument by up to 50 times, ensuring precise and reliable measurements. This innovation sets a new standard for signal quality and measurement accuracy in impedance spectrometry.
- The CellSpectrometer CSM 2100 is designed for seamless integration into standard laboratory setups. Its device and electrode plates are compatible with commercial well plates in 12-well (4 × 3 layout) and 24-well (6 × 4 layout) formats. This flexibility accommodates both hanging and standing inserts, such as TPP plates with Brand inserts, eliminating the need to transfer cell cultures to alternative containers and thereby streamlining workflows.
Examples of compatible cell cultures:- Epithelial cells ,
- Endothelial cells,
- Reconstructed Human Cornea-like Epithelium (RhCE),
- Skin models,
- Other tissue-specific cells
- This versatility makes the CellSpectrometer CSM 2100 an excellent tool for various research and testing applications across cell culture models.
- The CellSpectrometer CSM 2100 is a self-contained system that offers unparalleled convenience and efficiency for laboratory use. Its key benefits include:
- Independent Operation: The device functions without requiring a specialized environment, making it adaptable to various lab settings.
- Easy Maintenance: All components are designed for effortless cleaning and sterilization, maintaining high hygiene standards and minimizing cross-contamination risks.
- Calibration on Demand: The system allows for intuitive calibration checks at any time, ensuring consistent accuracy.
- Time and Cost Efficiency: By analyzing all cell cultures simultaneously under uniform conditions, the device significantly accelerates the testing process compared to traditional single-channel TEER measurement systems.
- Ethical Advantage: By reducing the reliance on volunteer testing and eliminating animal experiments, it promotes ethical testing practices.
This combination of practical, efficient, and ethical features makes the CSM 2100 an outstanding choice for barrier integrity research and testing.
CSM 2100 Software
The CellSpectrometer CSM 2100 comes equipped with sophisticated, user-friendly software that enhances the efficiency and accuracy of your experiments. Its key features include:
- Graphical Display: Offers visual representation of impedance spectra, phase angles, and TEER values for all 12 or 24 wells, enabling you to assess the effects of treatments and experiments at a glance.
- Relative Change Determination: Facilitates rapid identification of relative changes over time, aiding comparative studies through precise modeling results.
- Data Correction and Baseline Relation: Allows subtraction of blank values (baselines) for more accurate measurements and helps identify experimental stress.
- Threshold Settings: Flexible multiple threshold signals make it easy to evaluate wells at a glance and quickly pinpoint significant changes.
- Comprehensive Database: Stores all measurement data in a searchable database that supports dynamic Excel® sheet exports for further analysis and reporting, streamlining statistical evaluation.
This advanced software simplifies data interpretation and enhances your workflow, making research more efficient and insightful.
Where to use
Fields of Application for Tissue Barrier Quality Measurements
The CellSpectrometer CSM 2100 offers precise impedance measurements, making it a valuable tool in cosmetic, pharmaceutical, and medical research. Below are key application areas:
Cosmetic & Drug Research and Development
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Permeability Studies: Evaluates drug and cosmetic penetration across epithelial and endothelial barriers (e.g., skin absorption and dermal penetration). Ideal for assessing tissue integrity before and after treatment. Even minor gaps in cell culture structures cause a noticeable drop in impedance.
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Drug Delivery: Tissue barriers can hinder drug efficacy. Impedance measurements help develop strategies for overcoming these barriers, making it an ideal technique for studying active and passive transport mechanisms.
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Toxicology Screening: Due to its high sensitivity, impedance spectrometry detects micro-damages in cell layers at early stages, aiding in toxicity assessments. TEER measurements serve as an ethical and reliable alternative to animal testing, aligning with REACH and OECD guidelines by replacing tests like the Draize eye test.
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Non-Invasive Monitoring: Enables continuous observation of cellular responses to external stimuli without disrupting cell integrity.
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Cell Culture Maturation Assessment: Helps determine when a culture is fully developed and ready for experiments.
Biomedical Research & Dermatology
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Disease Modeling: Investigates barrier dysfunction in conditions like skin diseases, wound healing, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), diabetes, and neurodegenerative disorders.
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Infection Studies: Examines pathogen effects (e.g., bacteria, viruses) and immune responses on tissue barriers.
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Cytokine Research: Analyzes inflammatory cytokine impact on epithelial and endothelial layers.
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Cancer Research: Provides insights into cancer cell invasion and metastasis through barriers.
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Artificial Tissue Development: Supports the creation of engineered tissue models that mimic natural barriers.
Environmental and Food Safety
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Toxin Screening: Tests environmental pollutants and food additives for their impact on epithelial barriers.
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Nanoparticle Safety Assessment: Evaluates how nanoparticles interact with and affect cellular barriers.
With these versatile applications, the CellSpectrometer CSM 2100 plays a crucial role in advancing research and development by offering accurate, efficient, and ethical measurement solutions.
Technical data
Device, outer dimensions: 15 (L) x 11 (W) x 11 (H) cm, Weight: 2.23 kg (without electrode plate), Material: anodized aluminum, Power supply: via USB 2.0, type C (computer), 3 W
Electrode plate: dimensions: 134 (L) × 91 (W) × 33 (H including electrodes height) mm³, equipped with 12 electrode pairs for hanging or standing inserts, or with 24 electrode pairs for hanging inserts, weight: approx. 260 g, material: glass plate plus stainless steel, gold-plated, electrodes with patented, nanostructured titanium nitride (TiN) coating
Measurement range:
Frequencies: from 1 Hz to 200 kHz, 48 discrete frequencies (logarithmically distributed across the entire spectrum and an additional measurement point at 12.5 Hz)
Signal amplitude: 120 mV
Impedance: 0 to 20 kΩ
Phase: -90° to 0°
Technical changes may be made without prior notice.