Real-Time Analysis of Cellular Response to Small-Molecule Drugs within a Microfluidic Dielectrophoresis Device

Anal Chem. 2015 Jun 16;87(12):5914-20. doi: 10.1021/ac5041549. Epub 2015 Mar 26.

Abstract

Quantitative detection of the biological properties of living cells is essential for a wide range of purposes, from the understanding of cellular characteristics to the development of novel drugs in nanomedicine. Here, we demonstrate that analysis of cell biological properties within a microfluidic dielectrophoresis device enables quantitative detection of cellular biological properties and simultaneously allows large-scale measurement in a noise-robust and probeless manner. Applying this technique, the static and dynamic biological responses of live B16F10 melanoma cells to the small-molecule drugs such as N-ethylmaleimide (NEM) and [(dihydronindenyl)oxy]alkanoic acid (DIOA) were quantitatively and statistically examined by investigating changes in movement of the cells. Measurement was achieved using subtle variations in dielectrophoresis (DEP) properties of the cells, which were attributed to activation or deactivation of K(+)/Cl(-) cotransporter channels on the cell membrane by the small-molecule drugs, in a microfluidic device. On the basis of quantitative analysis data, we also provide the first report of the shift of the complex permittivity of a cell induced by the small-molecule drugs. In addition, we demonstrate interesting quantifiable parameters including the drug effectiveness coefficient, antagonistic interaction coefficient, kinetic rate, and full width at half-maximum, which corresponded to changes in biological properties of B16F10 cells over time when NEM and DIOA were introduced alone or in combination. Those demonstrated parameters represent very useful tools for evaluating the effect of small-molecule drugs on the biological properties of cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Carboxylic Acids / analysis*
  • Carboxylic Acids / pharmacology
  • Cell Membrane / drug effects
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Electrophoresis
  • Ethylmaleimide / analysis*
  • Ethylmaleimide / pharmacology
  • Indenes / analysis*
  • Indenes / pharmacology
  • K Cl- Cotransporters
  • Lab-On-A-Chip Devices*
  • Mice
  • Microfluidic Analytical Techniques / instrumentation*
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Symporters / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Symporters / metabolism
  • Time Factors
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured

Substances

  • ((dihydroindenyl)oxy)alkanoic acid
  • Carboxylic Acids
  • Indenes
  • Symporters
  • Ethylmaleimide