Cell-Based Sensor System Using L6 Cells for Broad Band Continuous Pollutant Monitoring in Aquatic Environments

Abstract

Pollution of drinking water sources represents a continuously emerging problem in global environmental protection. Novel techniques for real-time monitoring of water quality, capable of the detection of unanticipated toxic and bioactive substances, are urgently needed. In this study, the applicability of a cell-based sensor system using selected eukaryotic cell lines for the detection of aquatic pollutants is shown. Readout parameters of the cells were the acidification (metabolism), oxygen consumption (respiration) and impedance (morphology) of the cells. A variety of potential cytotoxic classes of substances (heavy metals, pharmaceuticals, neurotoxins, waste water) was tested with monolayers of L6 cells (rat myoblasts). The cytotoxicity or cellular effects induced by inorganic ions (Ni2+ and Cu2+) can be detected with the metabolic parameters acidification and respiration down to 0.5 mg/L, whereas the detection limit for other substances like nicotine and acetaminophen are rather high, in the range of 0.1 mg/L and 100 mg/L. In a close to application model a real waste water sample shows detectable signals, indicating the existence of cytotoxic substances. The results support the paradigm change from single substance detection to the monitoring of overall toxicity.

Nearest neighbor ensembles for functional data with interpretable feature selection

“…Cell based sensor technologies are promising tools concerning environmental quality monitoring (see e.g. [51,52]). …”

Numerical Study of Flow inside the Micro Fluidic Cell Sense Cartridge

“…Various types of transducers such as electrical, electronic, optical, magnetic, temperature based are used and their selection depends on case to case basis [1,2]. Bioreceptor could either be any component of live system like enzymes, immunoglobulins, oligonucleotides, or could be natural or recombinant version of live system likes viruses, bacteria, yeast, plant, mammalian cells [3]. Specificity and sensitivity aspect and detection of bioavailable part of the target molecule makes these sensors preferential amongst other sensors in pharmaceutical industry, medical diagnostics, environmental monitoring, and food safety assurance [4].…”

A UAV-Mounted Whole Cell Biosensor System for Environmental Monitoring Applications

“…For instance, the growth kinetics of cells could be an indicator of environmental stress and potential threats to human health. Several whole-cell biosensors have been developed to monitor the gas toxicity [9], air quality [10], and water pollution [11]. For monitoring remote or potentially dangerous locations, the whole-cell biosensor should be delivered and maintained in a proper culture conditions with a portable power source [12, 13].…”