Detection of physiologically active compounds using cell-based biosensors

• Published in: Trends in Biotechnology Vol. 19; no. 8; pp. 304 - 309
• Main Authors: Stenger, David A., Gross, Guenter W., Keefer, Edward W., Shaffer, Kara M., Andreadis, Joanne D., Ma, Wu, Pancrazio, Joseph J.
• Format: Book Review Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01-08-2001; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Biosensing Techniques; biosensor; Biosensors; Biotechnology; cell-based; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; gene expression; genomics; Methods. Procedures. Technologies; microelectrode array; Neurons; stem cell; Stem Cells; Various methods and equipments; microelectrode array; Biotechnology; biosensor; stem cell; Cell biology; Genetics; cell-based; gene expression; Three dimensional culture; Neuron; Biosensor; Stem cell; Poison; Review; Application; Monitoring; Myocyte
• ISSN: 0167-7799; 1879-3096
• DOI: 10.1016/S0167-7799(01)01690-0

Cell-based biosensors are portable devices that contain living biological cells that monitor physiological changes induced by exposure to environmental perturbations such as toxicants, pathogens or other agents. Methods of detecting physiological changes include extracellular electrical recordings, optical measurements, and, in the future, functional genomics and proteomics. Several technical developments are occurring that will increase the feasibility of cell-based biosensors for field applications; these developments include stem cell and 3D culture technologies. Possible scenarios for the use of cell-based biosensors include broad-range detectors of unknown threat agents and functional assessment of identified agents.