Nanoparticle activated neutrophils-on-a-chip: A label-free capacitive sensor to monitor cells at work

• Published in: Sensors and actuators. B, Chemical Vol. 313; pp. 1 - 8
• Main Authors: Bunnfors, Kalle, Abrikossova, Natalia, Kilpijärvi, Joni, Eriksson, Peter, Juuti, Jari, Halonen, Niina, Brommesson, Caroline, Lloyd Spetz, Anita, Uvdal, Kajsa
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Lausanne Elsevier B.V 15-06-2020; Elsevier Science Ltd
• Subjects: Capacitive sensor; Cerium; Cerium oxide nanoparticles; CMOS; Complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS); Electric contacts; Electromagnetic fields; Exposure; Granulocytes; Immune system; Lab-on-a-chip; Leukocytes; Low temperature; Low temperature co-fired ceramic (LTCC) packaging; Nanoparticles; Neutrophil granulocytes; Neutrophils; Semiconductors; Workload; Lab-on-a-chip; Low temperature co-fired ceramic (LTCC) packaging; Neutrophil granulocytes; Complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS); Cerium oxide nanoparticles; Capacitive sensor
• ISSN: 0925-4005; 1873-3077; 1873-3077
• DOI: 10.1016/j.snb.2020.128020

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•Sensor monitoring cellular ROS burst in time frames of minutes.•CMOS is combined with LTCC technology.•Lable free capacitive response by cells on an insulating surface in a weak electromangnetic field.•Cell activity in response to external triggers, in this case nanoparticles is measured.
Neutrophil granulocytes are the most abundant white blood cells in mammals and vital components of the immune system. They are involved in the early phase of inflammation and in generation of reactive oxygen species. These rapid cell-signaling communicative processes are performed in the time frame of minutes.
In this work, the activity and the response of neutrophil granulocytes are monitored when triggered by cerium-oxide based nanoparticles, using capacitive sensors based on Lab-on-a-chip technology. The chip is designed to monitor activation processes of cells during nanoparticle exposure, which is for the first time recorded on-line as alteration of the capacitance. The complementary metal oxide semiconductor engineering chip design is combined with low temperature co-fired ceramic, LTCC, packaging technology. The method is label free and gently measures cells on top of an insulating surface in a weak electromagnetic field, as compared to commonly used four-point probes and impedance spectroscopy electric measurements where electrodes are in direct contact with the cells.
In summary, this label free method is used to measure oxidative stress of neutrophil granulocytes in real time, minute by minute and visualize the difference in moderate and high cellular workload during exposure of external triggers. It clearly shows the capability of this method to detect cell response during exposure of external triggers. In this way, an informationally dense non-invasive method is obtained, to monitor cells at work.