8×16 channel physiological monitoring platform of stem cell culture systems

An up to 128 channel PC-based physiological measurement platform for stem cell cultures is presented in this paper. The platform is designed to measure the most important stem cell culture parameters namely pH, temperature and glucose in real-time. The aim is to optimize the whole bioprocess by means of the acquisition of real-time, on-line, in-situ quantitative physiology information from the culture. The hardware system of the physiological measurement platform is designed in a modular manner. Each is designed as an independent 16 channel data acquisition system specific to a sensor type. Up to eight data acquisition modules are connected together and then connected to the host PC to form the 8times16 channel physiological measurement platform. The host PC is mainly used for data acquisition process control. With the virtual instrumentation application software programmed in LabVIEW, the user-friendly interface of physiological measurement platform is easy to use in facilitating the acquisition, display and management different types of physiological data. The platform is generic by design and can be interfaced with a variety of potentiometric and amperometric sensors. This operational attributes renders the platform suitable for any cell culture application where quality control is needed through the quantitative monitoring of the bioprocess and its subsequent informed assessment and interpretation. Furthermore, the modular structure facilitates the introduction of new sensor to the platform.