Bioelectrochemical signal monitoring of in-vitro cultured cells by means of an automated microsystem based on solid state sensor-array

• Published in: Biosensors & bioelectronics 2003-05, Vol.18 (5), p.621-626
• Main Authors: Lorenzelli, Leandro, Margesin, Benno, Martinoia, Sergio, Tedesco, M.T, Valle, Maurizio
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Bioelectronics; Biological and medical sciences; Biosensors; Biotechnology; Cell Culture Techniques - instrumentation; Cell Culture Techniques - methods; Cell Line; Cell-metabolism monitoring; CHO Cells - chemistry; CHO Cells - drug effects; Cricetinae; Cricetulus; Electrochemistry - instrumentation; Electrochemistry - methods; Equipment Design; Equipment Failure Analysis; Flow Cytometry - instrumentation; Flow Cytometry - methods; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Integrated signal conditioning and multiplexing electronics; Keratinocytes - chemistry; Keratinocytes - drug effects; Keratinocytes - metabolism; Methods. Procedures. Technologies; Microsensors array; Miniaturization; Ouabain - toxicity; Polylysine - pharmacology; Semiconductors; Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted - instrumentation; Toxicity Tests - instrumentation; Toxicity Tests - methods; Transducers; Various methods and equipments
• ISSN: 0956-5663; 1873-4235
• DOI: 10.1016/S0956-5663(03)00040-X

In the last decade, fundamental advances in whole cell based sensors and microsystems have established the extracellular acidification rate monitoring of cell cultures as an important indicator of the global cellular metabolism. Innovative approaches adopting advanced integrated sensor array-based microsystems represent an emerging technique with numerous biomedical applications. This paper reports a cell-based microsystem, for multisite monitoring of the physiological state of cell populations. The functional components of the microsystem are an ion sensitive field effect transistor (ISFET) array-based sensor chip and a CMOS integrated circuit for signal conditioning and sensor signal multiplexing. In order to validate the microsystem capabilities for in-vitro toxicity screening applications, preliminary experimental measurements with Cheratinocytes, and CHO cells are presented. Variations in the acidification rate, imputable to the inhibitory effect of the drug on the metabolic cell activity have been monitored and cell viability during long term measurements has been also demonstrated.