Multi-analyte biosensor interface for real-time monitoring of 3D microtissue spheroids in hanging-drop networks

摘要

Microsensors in ‘hanging-drop’ devices can track the metabolism of three-dimensional arrangements of human colon cancer cells in real time. When cells turn cancerous, their internal machinery often changes the consumption of nutrients, such as glucose. Disrupting the chemical pathways involved could lead to potent anticancer therapeutics. Patrick Misun and Olivier Frey at ETH Zürich in Switzerland and their colleagues have developed a more-realistic cell-culture platform with which to investigate drug-development strategies. The team grew human colon carcinoma microtissues inside liquid droplets that were suspended underneath a microfluidic substrate. Plug-in electrodes functionalized with either glucose- or lactose-sensitive enzymes into the microfluidic network enabled near-instantaneous detection of the consumption or secretion of metabolic molecules by the spherical microtissues. The high sensitivity and multi-tissue analytical capabilities of the platform bodes well for future ‘body-on-a-chip’ applications.