ABSTRACT
In addition to its versatility, IMC has been shown to be sensitive enough to detect very low numbers of metabolically active cells. For example, assuming a detection limit of 200 μW, only 100,000 bacteria or 1,000 rat hepatocytes are needed to reach the detection limit (Braissant et al. 2010a,c; Kemp and Lamprecht 2000). Although there can be strong variations in the heat production when dierent organisms or cell lines are considered, usually detection limits remain rather low compared with other techniques (Braissant et al. 2015a, Table 19.1). Considering these advantages, this chapter will discuss the potential applications of IMC in the clinical and biomedical elds. In addition, this chapter will provide examples of the practical use of IMC for biomedical applications. Finally, the drawbacks of current instruments and the potential solutions brought by new instruments will be discussed as well.
