In situ, dual-mode monitoring of organ-on-a-chip with smartphone-based fluorescence microscope
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Updated: Mar 17, 2026
Wide-field Fluorescent Microscopy and Fluorescent Imaging Flow Cytometry on a Cell-phone
Published on: April 11, 2013
Soohee Cho1, Argel Islas-Robles2, Ariana M Nicolini3
1Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721-0038 USA.
Abstract:
The use of organ-on-a-chip (OOC) platforms enables improved simulation of the human kidney's response to nephrotoxic drugs. The standard method of analyzing nephrotoxicity from existing OOC has majorly consisted of invasively collecting samples (cells, lysates, media, etc.) from an OOC. Such disruptive analyses potentiate contamination, disrupt the replicated in vivo environment, and require expertize to execute. Moreover, traditional analyses, including immunofluorescence microscopy, immunoblot, and microplate immunoassay are essentially not in situ and require substantial time, resources, and costs. In the present work, the incorporation of fluorescence nanoparticle immunocapture/immunoagglutination assay into an OOC enabled dual-mode monitoring of drug-induced nephrotoxicity in situ. A smartphone-based fluorescence microscope was fabricated as a handheld in situ monitoring device attached to an OOC. Both the presence of γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) on the apical brush-border membrane of 786-O proximal tubule cells within the OOC surface, and the release of GGT to the outflow of the OOC were evaluated with the fluorescence scatter detection of captured and immunoagglutinated anti-GGT conjugated nanoparticles. This dual-mode assay method provides a novel groundbreaking tool to enable the internal and external in situ monitoring of the OOC, which may be integrated into any existing OOCs to facilitate their subsequent analyses.
Insights
This study introduces a novel in situ method for monitoring kidney organ-on-a-chip (OOC) drug toxicity. It uses nanoparticle assays and a smartphone microscope to detect nephrotoxicity without disrupting the OOC.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Toxicology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Organ-on-a-chip (OOC) platforms offer advanced simulation of human kidney drug responses.
- Current nephrotoxicity analysis methods for OOCs are invasive, disruptive, and resource-intensive.
- Traditional assays lack in situ capabilities, requiring significant time, expertise, and cost.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a non-disruptive, in situ dual-mode assay for monitoring drug-induced nephrotoxicity in OOC models.
- To integrate a smartphone-based fluorescence microscope for handheld OOC analysis.
- To evaluate the presence and release of kidney biomarkers using nanoparticle-based immunoassays.
Main Methods:
- Incorporation of a fluorescence nanoparticle immunocapture/immunoagglutination assay into an OOC.
- Development of a smartphone-based fluorescence microscope for in situ monitoring.
- Detection of γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) presence and release using anti-GGT conjugated nanoparticles.
Main Results:
- Successful dual-mode in situ monitoring of drug-induced nephrotoxicity within the OOC.
- Evaluation of GGT on proximal tubule cells and its release into the OOC outflow.
- Demonstration of fluorescence scatter detection for captured and immunoagglutinated nanoparticles.
Conclusions:
- A novel, groundbreaking tool for internal and external in situ OOC monitoring has been developed.
- This assay method can be integrated into existing OOC platforms for enhanced analysis.
- The approach minimizes disruption, contamination, and resource requirements for nephrotoxicity assessment.
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