Patent ID: 7056746

Claim:
A method of determining an interaction between different cell types, the method involving the assembly of cells comprising the following steps: a) providing a first electrode positioned in a first plane and a second electrode positioned in a second plane different from the first plane; b) providing a plurality of cells comprising at least two cell types suspended in an electrolyte solution, the cells and the electrolyte solution being located between the first and the second electrode, wherein the second electrode is either: (i) a light-sensitive electrode, such that when an AC electric field is generated and the second electrode is illuminated with a predetermined light pattern, a planar assembly of cells forms in a designated area of the second electrode, said designated area being defined by the pattern of illumination, or (ii) an electrode having a surface or an interior, the surface or interior having been modified to produce spatial modulation in properties of the second electrode that affects the local distribution of an AC electric field, such that a planar assembly of cells forms in a designated area of the second electrode when an AC electric field is generated, said designated area being defined by the spatial modulation in the properties of the second electrode; c) forming a planar assembly of cells in a designated area of the second electrode by applying an AC electric field and, if the second electrode comprises a light sensitive electrode, by illuminating the second electrode with a predetermined light pattern, wherein the cells in the assembly comprise different types of cells, with the proximity of one cell type to another allowing an interaction between the different cell types to occur; and d) detecting the interaction between different cell types wherein the interaction between the different cell types results in a morphological change of at least one cell type; change in a surface marker of at least one cell type; change in a gene expression of at least one cell type; a change in the membrane permeability of at least one cell type; or adhesion of the cells to form a cluster.