Patent ID: 8344742

Claim:
A method of investigating a mechanism of action of a compound, comprising: providing a device for monitoring cell-substrate impedance, wherein the device comprises two or more wells, each comprising an individually addressable electrode array, further wherein each electrode array comprises two electrode structures, each of which comprises multiple electrode elements, further wherein the electrode structures of each electrode array have substantially the same surface area; attaching the device to an impedance analyzer; adding cells to two or more wells; adding a test compound to at least one of the wells comprising cells to form at least one test compound well; providing at least one control well comprising cells that does not receive test compound; monitoring impedance of the at least one test compound well and the at least one control well to obtain a series of impedance measurements including before adding the test compound and three or more time points after adding the test compound; plotting impedance measurements from the at least three time points versus time to obtain at least one test compound impedance curve and at least one control impedance curve; and comparing the impedance curves from the at least one test compound well and the at least one control well to determine a time frame at which the test compound has a significant effect on cell growth or behavior, wherein determining the time frame provides information on changes in cell status in response to the test compound, wherein the cell status is selected from the group consisting of cell attachment or adhesion status, cell growth or proliferation status, the number of viable or dead cells, cytoskeletal organization or structure, and the number of cells going through apoptosis or necrosis.