Continous Real-Time Cell Analysis - Highly sensitive, non-invasive, easy to operate
xCELLigence Real-Time Cell Analysis (RTCA) - Live Cell Analysis Made Easy and Precise
xCELLigence RTCA technology provides a powerful solution for real-time live cell analysis. Continuously track cell health, behaviour, and function with label-free impedance and imaging assays.
Challenges using Traditional Methods
Time-consuming and labour-intensive
Poor reproducibility and high variability
Low sensitivity and delayed detection
The need for labels, dyes or stainings
Only end-point data available
Solved by xCELLigence RTCA
- Real-time Monitoring
- Label-free and non-invasive
- High Sensitivity and Accuracy
- Scalable High-Throughput Options
- Reliable and Reproducible Results
- Easy to use
Technology -
Cellular Impedance Explained
Label Free, Real-Time Method for Studying Cells
Cellular impedance is a fast, non-invasive method for real-time live-cell analysiswithout the need for labels or staining. Unlike traditional assays, it continuously monitors cell behavior by measuring electrical impedance changes as cells interact with electrodes in the plate bottom.
With exceptional speed and temporal resolution, this technology captures key cell metrics—proliferation, adhesion, morphology, migration, and differentiation—over seconds to days. By eliminating endpoint limitations, it delivers dynamic, quantitative insights for more accurate and comprehensive cell analysis.
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Detect and quantify apoptosis with precision using xCELLigence RTCA eSight. Gain deeper insights into cell viability, growth, and morphology while directly visualizing apoptosis induction.
Revolutionizing Cell-Based Research:
Real-Time, Live Cell Analysis
Experience unparalleled insight into cellular processes in real-time, under physiological conditions.
Real-Time Monitoring
Gain
continuous, dynamic insights into cellular processes, including proliferation,
cytotoxicity, barrier function, migration, invasion, and immune cell-mediated
killing.
Non-Invasive Technology
Neither the gold microelectrode surfaces nor the applied electric potential (22 mV) have an effect on cell health or behavior.
Simple and User-Friendly
The easy workflow allows users to simply add cells to E-plates and begin kinetic measurements at physiological conditions, with minimal hands-on time.
Label Free & Physiologically Relevant
Preserve natural cell behavior with non-destructive, dye-free analysis, enabling long-term observation while reducing workload.
Unmatched Sensitivity
Detect subtle cellular changes, even at low
effector-to-target ratios, with kinetic data that reveal dynamic cell
activities.
Short- and Long-Term Flexibility
Monitor
cellular responses over seconds or days to capture a complete kinetic profile
of behavior.
xCELLigence RTCA Analyzers
Tailored Solutions for Your Research Needs and Throughput Requirements
xCELLigence RTCA MP - Multiple Plates
Perform real-time immune cell killing assays in up to 6x96 well-plates.
xCELLigence RTCA eSight - Imaging & Impedance
Combine impedance-based measurements with live cell imaging.
xCELLigence RTCA DP - Cell Invasion & Migration
Analyze cell migration and invasion with
precision and ease in up to 48 wells.
xCELLigence RTCA S16 - Pilot Scale
Continuously monitor cell proliferation, cytopatic effects and morphological changes in a 16-well format.
xCELLigence RTCA SP - Single Plate
Continously monitor cell proliferation, cytopatic effects, viral titers and morphological changes in a 96-well format.
xCELLigence RTCA HT - High Throughput Model
Monitor up to four 384-well plates in real time to meet high throuput screening needs.
xCELLigence RTCA Cardio - Cardiomyocyte Contractility
Monitor cardiomyocyte contractility and viability in real time.
xCELLigence RTCA CardioECR - Cardiomyocyte Contractility & Electrical Activity
Simultaneously analyse cardiomyocyte contractility, viability, and electrophysiology.
xCELLigence RTCA ePACER- Cardiomyocate Pacing
Easy solution for efficient maturation of hiPSC cardiomyocytes with less stress.
Consumables
Applications
Immune Cell Killing Analysis
Enhance
cancer immunotherapy research with xCELLigence Real-Time Cell Analysis. This
label-free, in vitro assay provides sensitive, accurate, and direct
measurements of immune cell killing potency. Monitor cellular mechanisms,
including serial killing and exhaustion, under physiological conditions.
Citotoxicity Assays
Assess the
cytotoxic effects of drugs or compounds by monitoring cell proliferation, size,
morphology, and attachment quality in real time. Monitor the kinetics of
long-term cellular responses with this simple and high-throughput cytotoxicity
assay. Effortlessly generate dose-response curves at multiple time points, make
informed decisions about treatment timing, and all without increasing workload.
Cell Adhesion Assays
Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) play a key role in metastasis by
reattaching, extravasating, and spreading to distant organs. With xCELLigence
RTCA, continuously track cell adhesion kinetics in real time—without
fluorescent dyes. Gain deeper insights into metastatic processes and
quantitatively assess cell attachment and spreading with a label-free,
automated workflow.
Apoptosis and Proliferation Assays
Discover simple, quantitative,
high-throughput apoptosis and proliferation assays that offer multiple
perspectives on cell health and viability. Monitor real-time cell health,
capturing early and late apoptotic events such as changes in cell adhesion,
membrane integrity, and detachment. Track host cell proliferation to assess
drug toxicity or viral presence. Detect and quantify apoptosis in living cells
using a label-free approach or apoptotic/nuclear labeling reagents. The
xCELLigence RTCA eSight delivers comprehensive insights with impedance,
fluorescence, and brightfield imaging, providing multiple temporal vantage
points.
Cell Invasion and Migration Assays
Cell invasion and migration are
essential in processes like wound healing and cancer metastasis. Traditional
methods often lack quantitative accuracy and efficiency. The xCELLigence RTCA
DP system provides a solution by automatically collecting migration data over
extended periods—without the need for sample processing, staining, or manual
counting. The RTCA software generates kinetic migration curves automatically,
offering a reproducible and efficient approach to studying cell movement in
real time.
Stem Cell Assays
Stem cell
research provides mechanistic insights into disease, aids regenerative medicine
development, and offers an alternative approach to test the liability and
effectiveness of new drugs. Overcome cell therapy manufacturing challenges by
predicting functional capacity and assessing variability of mesenchymal stem
cells (MSCs) with xCELLigence RTCA. Maximize production yields using fewer
cells and continuously measure integrated changes in cell number, attachment,
and morphology to ensure consistency between passages.
Cell Barrier Function Assays
Endothelial and epithelial cell barriers play a crucial role in protecting against disease
but can become compromised in various conditions. xCELLigence RTCA provides a
sensitive, impedance-based alternative to traditional barrier function assays
like solute permeability and TEER. Continuously monitor barrier integrity and
disruption in real time with a label-free, quantitative approach for superior
insights into disease mechanisms.
Cell Signaling Assays
GPCR, RTK,
and nuclear hormone signaling drive biochemical changes that impact cell count,
morphology, and adhesion. xCELLigence RTCA enables real-time, label-free
tracking of cell size, shape, and proliferation in response to signaling
events. Capture dynamic cellular responses within minutes and monitor changes
over days with a continuous, quantitative workflow.
Viral Cytopathic Effect Assays
Optimize
your antiviral research by measuring viral cytopathic effects (CPE) in real
time—without labor-intensive plaque assays. xCELLigence RTCA instruments
automate CPE monitoring from minutes to days, reducing workload and manual
handling. Effortlessly track cell proliferation kinetics, determine the ideal
infection time based on cell seeding density, and assess virus-mediated
cytopathogenicity—all in a single, streamlined workflow.
Phagocytosis Assays
Dynamically
analyze key immune mechanisms involved in pathogen clearance and cell debris
removal. Track the entire process in real time through imaging, screen for
pathway modulators, and identify potential therapeutic interventions. Visualize
and label macrophages using nuclear labeling reagents for enhanced insights
into immune responses.
The CiPA (Comprehensive in Vitro Proarrhythmig Assay) Initiative
Driven by HESI, FDA, and the Safety
Pharmacology Society, the CiPA initiative aims to enhance cardiac safety
assessment by evaluating potential modifications to current FDA guidelines. The
xCELLigence RTCA CardioECR was selected as a core technology for validation,
playing a role in both Phase I and II of this initiative.
Cardiac Disease Modeling
Model pathophysiological cellular phenotypes of genetically heritable
heart diseases using disease-specific human induced pluripotent stem cell
cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CM). This modeling approach offers deeper insights into
the mechanisms behind compromised electrical and contractile coupling in heart
disease.
Cardio Safety Toxicology
Human induced pluripotent stem cell cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CM) are ideal
for assessing drug liability. The xCELLigence RTCA CardioECR system provides a
unique multiplex detection method to probe and understand the underlying
toxicity of compounds and pharmaceuticals, enabling more accurate and reliable
results.
Cardio Drug Discovery
Human induced pluripotent stem cell
cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CM) provide an advanced model for evaluating the efficacy
and toxicity of new therapeutic approaches. This includes testing inotropic
compounds that modulate cardiomyocyte contractility, offering valuable insights
into their potential effects on heart function.
Cardio Maturation
Long-term electrical pacing is becoming the preferred method to improve
the maturation of hiPSC-CMs in a consistent, scalable way. This approach
enhances gene and protein expression, as well as contractile response, making
it ideal for drug safety testing, cardiovascular drug discovery, and disease
modeling.
FAQ
Your questions answered: Everything you need to know