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Updated: Aug 14, 2026
Viability Assays for Cells in Culture
Published on: January 20, 2014
Multiphenotypic whole-cell sensor for viability screening
Laura J Itle1, Michael V Pishko
1Department of Chemical Engineering and The Huck Institute for the Life Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802-4420, USA.
Abstract:
Here, we describe the fabrication of whole mammalian cell biosensors for the optical monitoring of cell viability. Three phenotypes were examined for their response to the addition of two model chemotoxins: sodium hypochlorite and sodium azide, and one model biotoxin, concanavalin A. Two sensing platforms containing cells, hydrogel microspheres, or hydrogel arrays, were also explored. Step changes in viability in response to small doses of sodium hypochlorite were seen nearly instantaneously in all cell lines, in solution, microspheres, and microarrays. Linear detection of sodium azide by entrapped hepatocytes was 0-10 microM, whereas the linear detection range for macrophages and endothelial cells was 0-75 microM. Macrophages and hepatocytes have a greater sensitivity, as indicated by a 40% change in fluorescence over the linear range, whereas endothelial cells show only a 15% change in fluorescence over the linear range. Using photoreaction injection molding, we were also able to generate a multiphenotype sensor that enables the measurement of the toxic effect of 100 microg/mL concanavalin A on macrophages and hepatocytes, but not on endothelial cells.
Insights
Researchers developed whole mammalian cell biosensors for optical monitoring of cell viability. These novel biosensors can rapidly detect toxins like sodium hypochlorite and sodium azide, offering sensitive detection across different cell types and platforms.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Cell Biology
- Biosensor Technology
Background:
- Monitoring cell viability is crucial for understanding cellular responses to environmental stimuli and toxins.
- Existing methods for assessing cell viability can be time-consuming or lack real-time optical monitoring capabilities.
- Development of sensitive and rapid biosensors is needed for accurate toxicity assessments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To fabricate and characterize whole mammalian cell biosensors for optical monitoring of cell viability.
- To evaluate the response of different cell phenotypes to model chemotoxins and biotoxins.
- To explore different sensing platforms, including hydrogel microspheres and arrays, for enhanced biosensing.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of whole mammalian cell biosensors.
- Exposure of biosensors to model chemotoxins (sodium hypochlorite, sodium azide) and a biotoxin (concanavalin A).
- Optical monitoring of cell viability changes using hydrogel microspheres and hydrogel arrays as sensing platforms.
- Utilized photoreaction injection molding for multiphenotype sensor generation.
Main Results:
- Instantaneous detection of viability changes upon exposure to sodium hypochlorite across all tested cell lines and platforms.
- Differential linear detection ranges for sodium azide: 0-10 microM for hepatocytes and 0-75 microM for macrophages and endothelial cells.
- Macrophages and hepatocytes exhibited higher sensitivity (40% fluorescence change) compared to endothelial cells (15% fluorescence change) for sodium azide.
- Multiphenotype sensors detected concanavalin A toxicity in macrophages and hepatocytes, but not in endothelial cells.
Conclusions:
- Whole mammalian cell biosensors provide a rapid and effective method for optical monitoring of cell viability.
- The developed biosensors demonstrate differential sensitivity and detection ranges for various toxins across different cell types.
- The study highlights the potential of these biosensors for multiphenotype toxicity assessments and real-time monitoring applications.
