Cell-based dose responses from open-well microchambers

Anal Chem. 2013 May 21;85(10):5249-54. doi: 10.1021/ac400743w. Epub 2013 May 2.

Abstract

Cell-based assays play a critical role in discovery of new drugs and facilitating research in cancer, immunology, and stem cells. Conventionally, they are performed in Petri dishes, tubes, or well plates, using milliliters of reagents and thousands of cells to obtain one data point. Here, we are introducing a new platform to realize cell-based assay capable of increased throughput and greater sensitivity with a limited number of cells. We integrated an array of open-well microchambers into a gradient generation system. Consequently, cell-based dose responses were examined with a single device. We measured IC50 values of three cytotoxic chemicals, Triton X-100, H2O2, and cadmium chloride, as model compounds. The present system is highly suitable for the discovery of new drugs and studying the effect of chemicals on cell viability or mortality with limited samples and cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cadmium Chloride / toxicity
  • Cell Culture Techniques
  • Cytotoxins / toxicity
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Drug Evaluation, Preclinical
  • Hydrogen Peroxide / toxicity
  • Inhibitory Concentration 50
  • Mice
  • Microfluidic Analytical Techniques
  • NIH 3T3 Cells
  • Nanotechnology
  • Octoxynol / toxicity
  • Tissue Array Analysis / instrumentation*

Substances

  • Cytotoxins
  • Octoxynol
  • Hydrogen Peroxide
  • Cadmium Chloride