Heat-transfer-method-based cell culture quality assay through cell detection by surface imprinted polymers

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Cell Biology
• Analytical Chemistry

Background:

• Surface imprinted polymers (SIPs) offer specific cell detection via macromolecular imprints.
• Combining SIPs with heat-transfer methods yields a selective, label-free, low-cost cell detection assay.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess a SIP-based heat-transfer assay for monitoring breast cancer cell culture quality over time.
• To differentiate between adherent (ZR-75-1a) and suspension (ZR-75-1s) breast cancer cell lines.

Main Methods:

• Utilized surface imprinted polymers (SIPs) integrated with a heat-transfer method (HTM).
• Analyzed breast cancer cell line ZR-75-1 (adherent and suspension variants) over extended culture periods.
• Correlated thermal resistance (Rth) signal decay with cell culture quality and confirmed findings with STR DNA profiling.

Main Results:

• The SIP-based HTM assay successfully discriminated between adherent (ZR-75-1a) and suspension (ZR-75-1s) cell lines.
• A decay in thermal resistance (Rth) signal was observed in ZR-75-1a cells after prolonged culturing.
• This decay correlated with compromised cell culture quality, likely due to cross-contamination, as verified by STR DNA profiling.

Conclusions:

• The developed biomimetic sensor platform is effective for monitoring cell culture quality over time.
• The assay's sensitivity to changes in cell membrane functional groups impacts cell-imprint binding, detectable via thermal resistance.
• This technology offers a valuable tool for ensuring the integrity of cell cultures in research and diagnostics.