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Real-time Cytotoxicity Assays in Human Whole Blood
Published on: November 7, 2014
Static and dynamic acute cytotoxicity assays on microfluidic devices
Claus R Poulsen1, Christopher T Culbertson, Stephen C Jacobson
1Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, USA.
Analytical Chemistry
|January 15, 2005
Summary
Microfluidic devices enabled static and dynamic cell toxicity assays. Dynamic assays with shorter incubation times showed higher lethal concentrations (LC50) for Triton X-100 compared to static assays.
Area of Science:
- Cellular toxicology
- Microfluidics
- Biomedical engineering
Background:
- Microfluidic devices offer precise control for cell-based assays.
- Assessing cellular toxicity requires accurate measurement of cell viability under controlled conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and compare static and dynamic microfluidic assays for acute cellular toxicity.
- To determine the lethal concentration 50 (LC50) of Triton X-100 using both assay types.
Main Methods:
- Cells were exposed to Triton X-100 in static (reservoir incubation) and dynamic (spiral channel flow) microfluidic systems.
- Cell viability was assessed using dual fluorescence staining (calcein and propidium iodide).
- Incubation times were controlled by fluid transport and channel length.
Main Results:
- Static assays yielded an LC50 of 138 microM for Triton X-100 with 7-12 min incubation.
- Dynamic assays showed higher LC50 values: 290 microM (25 s) and 250 microM (47 s).
- Shorter incubation times in dynamic assays correlated with higher observed LC50 values.
Conclusions:
- Microfluidic platforms can effectively perform both static and dynamic toxicity assessments.
- Dynamic microfluidic assays provide a method for evaluating toxicity with precise, short-term exposure.
- The observed differences in LC50 highlight the impact of incubation time on toxicity measurements.
