In vitro electrochemical assays for vascular cells and organs

Abstract

Vascular form vascular organs and the walls of blood vessels play a crucial role in transporting nutritive compounds and drugs. Vascular cells also release factors required to maintain the homeostasis of the organs. Since cancer cells travel from tumors to secondary sites during metastasis through the vasculature, it is important to investigate the interactions of vascular and cancer cells. In vitro vascular models, including endothelial cell monolayers, tubular structures in three‐dimensional culture scaffolds, and microfluidic cultures, have been developed to facilitate research on drug discovery and in‐depth disease mechanisms. In addition to the common optical methods proposed for the evaluation of these models, electrochemical assays have been applied for evaluating cell activities and drug effects owing to their numerous advantages such as low invasion, real‐time detection, or high sensitivity and selectivity. The present review focuses on electrochemical assays related to vascular model structure and function. First, we summarize strategies for the electrochemical detection of nitric oxide and reactive oxygen species; assessment of endothelial cell barrier integrity using transepithelial electrical resistance measurements; endothelial permeability measurement using electrochemical tracers; evaluation of respiration activity, topography, and mRNA expression via electrochemical collection. We further discuss the methods for electrochemical cell analysis in detail, along with the variety of electrochemical systems available for these purposes, including microfluidic devices and electrochemical scanning probe microscopes. Finally, we conclude our review and propose perspectives for research that are likely to become relevant in the field.

Vasculature-on-a-Chip with a Porous Membrane Electrode for In Situ Electrochemical Detection of Nitric Oxide Released from Endothelial Cells

“…Conventional models have been evaluated using immunostaining and gene analysis, which are endpoint analyses. By contrast, electrochemical measurements have been widely employed for cell analysis , because of their advantages such as minimal invasiveness and facilitation of real-time analysis. Recently, a microfluidic device with an electrode was developed and evaluated through different electrochemical measurements, including transepithelial electrical resistance measurements. , In particular, vascular models have been extensively studied, and various devices with electrodes have been proposed for the real-time evaluation of cell functions.…”

Non-invasive and probeless rapid in-vitro monitoring and quantification of HUVECs counts based on FFT impedimetery

“…Utagawa et al have reported a review on the application of in vitro electrochemical assays on vascular cells (VCs) and organs. 18 They have categorized 7 strategies of electrochemical structures for VCs and models that mainly involve HUVECs.…”

Ion Conductance-Based Perfusability Assay of Vascular Vessel Models in Microfluidic Devices

“…For example, microscopic methods, such as fluorescence imaging, can visualize biomarkers via immunostaining [7]. In electrochemical analyses, electrochemical probe and electrode-array devices have been applied to vascular cells and tissues to evaluate their various functions, such as respiration activity and the production of nitric oxides, gene expression, cellular permeability, and cell barrier functions [8]. Transepithelial/endothelial electrical resistance (TEER) measurement is extensively used to monitor and examine integrity of the endothelial cell barrier.…”