Electrochemical monitoring of cellular metabolism has the potential to enhance knowledge gained from traditional toxicology by measuring metabolic changes as they occur, rather than waiting hours or days, as with current methods. When coupled with microfluidic organ-on-chip bioreactors, this method may lead to advances in systems biology and provide new avenues for drug development and testing. This work will discuss the development of three generations of multi-analyte sensors coupled with microfluidic flow chambers to measure real-time changes in cellular metabolism. Each generation utilizes platinum sensors modified for the analyte of interest, but each feature a different fabrication method of the substrate. These include embedding Pt wires in a sensor head, as well as the use of screen-printed and evaporated metal films on planar substrates. Sensor modifications were adapted to meet the needs of a given design, and include electroplating and deposition of enzyme and polymer films. Originally, films were applied by hand, but recently, a materials ink-jet printer was employed to provide precise and reproducible deposition of different films to closely spaced electrodes. Each sensor array is modified for continuous detection of glucose, lactate, oxygen, and pH, and new sensor modifications are currently in development to provide sensors applicable to the biological systems being interrogated. These sensor arrays have been used to interrogate a variety of cellular systems, including measuring the metabolic perturbations of primary neurons undergoing nutrient deprivation, the treatment of cultures with biological toxins, and monitoring the metabolic health of organ-on-a-chip constructs currently under development.

Multi-analyte sensors for metabolic monitoring of cellular metabolism in 2D and organ-on-chip microfluidic bioreactors

248th National Meeting (2014)

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