Sensor chips for multiparametric real time monitoring of cell metabolism and drug response

Abstract

Monitoring of metabolic parameters like O2-consumption and extracellular acidification provides first line information of cell vitality and effects responding to drug addition. For this purpose, a bioelectronic test system based on multiparametric sensor chips has been developed. Cells are directly cultivated on the sensor chips which possess sensors for pH and pO 2 measurement and two IDES-sensors for additional detection of cell impedance changes. A fluidic system supplies the cell culture with fresh medium and enables addition and removal of test substances. Sensors are read out in real-time and data is converted to rates of O2-consumption and extracellular acidification. Individual cell cultures can be monitored continuously from hours up to weeks. For experiments, the human cell line MCF-7 was treated with different concentrations of cisplatin (5μM and 10μM) and monitored for three days. For comparison, a WST test and cell count was performed in standard cultures every 24 hours. With the sensor chips first drug mediated effects were detected after 15 hours. In contrast to WST assay or CASY cell count with a series of end point measurements, sensor chips allow detection of drug mediated effects online and in real time. © 2009 Springer-Verlag.