Multiparametric microsensor chips for screening applications

Abstract

The identification of drug targets for pharmaceutical screening can be greatly accelerated by gene databases and expression studies. The identification of leading compounds from growing libraries is realized by high throughput screening platforms. Subsequently, for optimization and validation of identified leading compounds studies of their functionality have to be carried out, and just these functionality tests are a limiting factor. A rigorous preselection of identified compounds by in vitro cellular screening is necessary prior to using the drug candidates for the further time consuming and expensive stage, e.g. in animal models. Our efforts are focused to the parallel development, adaptation and integration of different microelectronic sensors into miniaturized biochips for a multiparametric, functional on-line analysis of living cells in physiologically environments. Parallel and on-line acquisition of data related to different cellular targets is required for advanced stages of drug screening and for economizing animal tests.

Analysis of Drug Action on Tumor Cell Metabolism Using Electronic Sensor Chips

“…Other drugs have similar as well as different effects on the rates of acidification and O 2 consumption and a cell membrane [2,4,17]. The effects depend on the specific phenotype and metabolism of the cell [18].…”

Biomedical applications of protein chips

“…Protein chips are well suited for this application when there is only a limited supply of cells or amount of drugs available for testing [53], especially in the high-throughput screening of lead compounds. Zhu et al [16] used a microarray of an entire eukaryotic proteome to screen different biochemical activities.…”

“…Such microarrays can be used to screen protein-drug interactions. To identify and validate lead compounds, in vitro cellular screening is necessary before further testing in, e.g., animal model [53]. Multiparametric cell monitoring with the Cell-Monitoring-System CMS may detect side effects more easily [54,55].…”

“…After the successful testing of this sensor chip, an array format is a logical extension for high-throughput screening. The major hurdles would be in managing a more complex fluidic system and having appropriate data acquisition and processing [53].…”

Prospects for Neuroprosthetics: Flexible Microelectrode Arrays with Polymer Conductors

“…CMOS APS with 21 x 21 µm 2 Al electrodes with optional Aucoating (electroless deposition) (Imfeld et al, 2007; Multiparametric sensor with 6 µm 2 CPFET and Ø 10 µm Pd or Pt electrodes, ISFET pH electrode, interdigitated impedance electrodes, photodiodes, oxygen and T sensor (Baumann et al, 1999;Ehret et al, 2001;Baumann et al, 2002) (Cunningham et al, 2001;Mathieson et al, 2004) 61 R,S (3D) Hexagonally arranged, ≤ 200 µm high, partially hollow W needles with electroplated Pt-tips, insulated by SiO 2 and back-side connected to Al tracks, wire-bonded to ASIC readout & stimulation circuitry (Gunning et al, 2010) Table 1. List of groups and companies that have developed a particular MEA technology 6 sorted by first publication date, then author.…”