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xCELLigence RTCA MP
Information
Overview
The xCELLigence RTCA MP instrument uses biosensors to continuously monitor cell behavior in a 6 x 96-well format. Obtain continuous cell assay data points using label-free methods. This multiple plate format is ideal for cell killing and immunotherapy applications such as antibody dependent cytotoxicity, bispecific T cell engagers, checkpoint inhibitors, NK cells, T cells, B cells, oncolytic viruses.
The MP model can host up to six 96-well electronic microplates (E-Plate 96) which can be run in parallel or independently of one another. This flexible plate batch processing allows for maximum productivity for multiple users. The instrument operates in a standard CO2 cell culture incubator and the control unit is housed outside the incubator. Easy-to-use intuitive software allows for real-time control and monitoring of the instrument and includes real-time data display and analysis functions.
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check out the Agilent xCELLigence RTCA eSight.
• Obtain continuous immune cell killing timepoints during the entire experiment.
• RTCA provides a continuous quantitative readout of cell number, proliferation rate, cell size/shape, and cell-substrate attachment quality
Specifications
| Analyzer Application | Adhesion | Apoptosis | Cell Characterization |
| Cytotoxity | Immune Cell Killing | Proliferation | |
| Receptor Signaling | Stem Cells | Virus Cytopathic Effects | |
| Wound Healing | |||
| Depth | 18 cm | ||
| Height | 18 cm | ||
| Operating Environment Relative Humidity | 5-98 % | ||
| Operating Environment Temperature | 20-40 °C | ||
| Sampling Format | 6 x 96 wells plates | ||
| Width | 44 cm |
Applications
Immune cell-mediated tumor cell killing can involve the components of both the innate and adaptive immune systems, including natural killer (NK) cells, cytotoxic T cells (MHC-dependent), antibodies secreted by B lymphocytes, engineered antibodies such as bispecific antibodies and bispecific T cell engagers (BiTEs), and genetically engineered T cells targeting specific tumor antigens (e.g., CAR-T, MHC-independent). The xCELLigence Real-Time Cell Analysis (RTCA) instrument monitors cell killing in real time. Simply add target and immune effector cells to the patented microplates (E-Plates), load the instrument, and start reading.
Study pathogen fitness and behavior in real-time by using xCELLigence Real-Time Cell Analysis (RTCA) instruments. Continuously monitor viral infections and bacterial biofilms in an automated, non-invasive, and label-free manner.
xCELLigence Real Time Cell Analysis captures changes in cell size, shape, and proliferation rate in response to membrane receptor signaling. Label-free and continuous monitoring provides insights in cell response in the initial minutes of exposure and their response over days.
xCELLigence real time cell analysis (RTCA) uses biosensors on the bottom of E-Plate wells to continuously monitior the number of cells present, their size/morphology, and how tightly they are interacting with the plate surface. Cytotoxic responses nearly always involve biochemical changes that directly, or indirectly, affect one or more of the these parameters. Consequently, xCELLigence is able to monitor cytotoxic responses resulting from an exceptionally wide range of molecular targets (Figure 1).
The impedance-based xCELLigence Real Time Cell Analysis (RTCA) assay provides a label-free automatic alternative to solute permeability assay and transendothelial electrical resistance (TEER) assay. RTCA assays provides continuous monitoring of cell barrier functions in response to disease state, inflammation, and compound treatment.
xCELLigence Real-Time Cell Analysis (RTCA) instrument continuously monitor cell adhesion and spreading without any manipulation of cells. Study interactions between extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins and cell surface integrins in an automated, non-invasive, and label-free manner.
How it works
How is xCELLigence RTCA used for killing assays? The xCELLigence Real-Time Cell Analysis (RTCA) instrument monitors cell killing in real time. Simply add target and immune effector cells to the patented microtiter plates (E-Plates), load the instrument, and start reading. The biosensors embedded in the bottom of each well allow for the automated kinetic measurement of changes in cell number, size, and substrate attachment quality.
Target cell death can be measured continuously and automatically from hours to days without the use of labels.
The xCELLigence Real-Time Cell Analysis (RTCA) instruments utilize patented microplates (E-Plates) containing gold biosensors embedded in the bottom of each well. These biosensors continuously and noninvasively monitor changes in cell number, cell size, and cell-substrate attachment quality.
xCELLigence RTCA Software Pro is an integrated software package that includes a powerful immunotherapy module for running and analyzing real time cell analysis data.Real time effector cytolysis can be consistently calculated at low and physiologically relevant, effector to target ratios.
Technology
Cellular Impedance Explained
Positioned between reductionistic biochemical assays and whole organism in vivo experimentation, cell-based assays serve as an indispensable tool for basic and applied biological research. However, the utility of many cell-based assays is diminished by: (1) the need to use labels, (2) incompatibility with continuous monitoring (i.e. only end point data is produced), (3) incompatibility with orthogonal assays, and (4) the inability to provide an objective/quantitative readout. Each of these shortcomings is, however, overcome by the non-invasive, label-free, and real-time cellular impedance assay.
The functional unit of a cellular impedance assay is a set of gold microelectrodes fused to the bottom surface of a microtiter plate well (Figure 1). When submersed in an electrically conductive solution (such as buffer or standard tissue culture medium), the application of an electric potential across these electrodes causes electrons to exit the negative terminal, pass through bulk solution, and then deposit onto the positive terminal to complete the circuit. Because this phenomenon is dependent upon the electrodes interacting with bulk solution, the presence of adherent cells at the electrode-solution interface impedes electron flow. The magnitude of this impedance is dependent on the number of cells, the size and shape of the cells, and the cell-substrate attachment quality. Importantly, neither the gold microelectrode surfaces nor the applied electric potential (22 mV) have an effect on cell health or behavior.
The gold microelectrode biosensors in each well of ACEA’s electronic microtiter plates (E-Plates®) cover 70-80% of the surface area (depending if a view area is present). Rather than the simplified electrode pair depicted in Figure 1, the electrodes in each well of an E-Plate are linked into “strands” that form an interdigitating array (Figure 2). This arrangement enables populations of cells to be monitored simultaneously and thereby provides exquisite sensitivity to: the number of cells attached to the plate, the size/morphology of the cells, and the cell-substrate attachment quality.
The impedance of electron flow caused by adherent cells is reported using a unitless parameter called Cell Index (CI), where CI = (impedance at time point n – impedance in the absence of cells)/nominal impedance value. Figure 3 provides a generic example of a real-time impedance trace throughout the course of setting up and running an apoptosis experiment. For the first few hours after cells have been added to a well there is a rapid increase in impedance. This is caused by cells falling out of suspension, depositing onto the electrodes, and forming focal adhesions. If the initial number of added cells is low and there is empty space on the well bottom cells will proliferate, causing a gradual yet steady increase in CI. When cells reach confluence the CI value plateaus, reflecting the fact that the electrode surface area that is accessible to bulk media is no longer changing. The addition of an apoptosis inducer at this point causes a decrease in CI back down to zero. This is the result of cells rounding and then detaching from the well bottom. While this generic example involves drug addition when cells are confluent, impedance-based assays are extremely flexible and can also evaluate the rate and extent of initial cell adhesion to the electrodes, or the rate and extent of cell proliferation.
RTCA provides a quantitative readout of cell number, proliferation rate, cell size/shape, and cell-substrate attachment quality. Because these physical properties are the product of thousands of different genes/proteins, RTCA can provide an extremely wide field of view on cell health and behavior. Everything from endothelial barrier function and chemotaxis to filopodia dynamics and immune cell-mediated cytolysis have successfully been analyzed on xCELLigence instruments. Despite the breadth of their reach, xCELLigence assays are still capable of interrogating very specific biochemical and cellular phenomena. Appropriate use of controls and/or orthogonal techniques make it possible to correlate the features of an impedance trace with specific cellular/molecular phenomena. To learn more about how this is done, and to witness the sensitivity and versatility of the xCELLigence RTCA technology, peruse the many specific applications that are highlighted here.
Features
The xCELLigence RTCA MP instrument obtains continuous data from cell behaviour in a multiple plate format: i.e. 6 x 96 wells. The plates can run independently of each other or in parallel, providing maximum efficiency during the research. In a real-time manner, the analyser offers data of multiple read-outs, including cell number, proliferation rate, cell size/shape and cell-substrate attachment quality. The instrument operates in a standard CO2 cell culture incubator and the control unit is housed outside the incubator. Easy-to-use intuitive software allows for real-time control and monitoring of the instrument and includes real-time data display and analysis functions.
Typical Applications
• Cancer immunotherapy:
With the monitoring of cell killing
• Virology & Infectious diseases:
Monitor pathogens behaviour
• Cell signalling:
Capture changes in cell behaviour due to signalling
• Cytotoxicity Overview:
Monitor cell behaviour and attachment to the plate surface
• Cell Barrier Function:
Continuous monitoring of the cell barrier
• Cell Adhesion:
Studying cell adhesion and cell spreading