Transistors for Chemical Monitoring of Living Cells

Biosensors (Basel). 2018 Jul 4;8(3):65. doi: 10.3390/bios8030065.

Abstract

We review here the chemical sensors for pH, glucose, lactate, and neurotransmitters, such as acetylcholine or glutamate, made of organic thin-film transistors (OTFTs), including organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs) and electrolyte-gated OFETs (EGOFETs), for the monitoring of cell activity. First, the various chemicals that are produced by living cells and are susceptible to be sensed in-situ in a cell culture medium are reviewed. Then, we discuss the various materials used to make the substrate onto which cells can be grown, as well as the materials used for making the transistors. The main part of this review discusses the up-to-date transistor architectures that have been described for cell monitoring to date.

Keywords: cells monitoring; chemical sensors; organic electronics; transistor arrays; transistors.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biosensing Techniques / instrumentation
  • Biosensing Techniques / methods*
  • Culture Media / chemistry
  • Electrochemical Techniques / instrumentation
  • Electrochemical Techniques / methods
  • Electrodes
  • Endothelial Cells / chemistry
  • Endothelial Cells / cytology
  • Endothelial Cells / metabolism
  • Transistors, Electronic*

Substances

  • Culture Media