Whole-cell bio-chips for functional sensing integrate living cells on miniaturized platforms made... more Whole-cell bio-chips for functional sensing integrate living cells on miniaturized platforms made by micro- system-technologies (MST). The cells are integrated, deposited or immersed in a media which is in contact with the chip. The cells behavior is monitored via electrical, electrochemical or optical methods. In this paper we describe such whole- cell biochips where the signal is generated due to the genetic response of the cells. The solid-state platform hosts the bio- logical component, i.e. the living cells, and integrates all the required micro-system technologies, i.e. the micro- electronics, micro-electro optics, micro-electro or magneto mechanics and micro-fluidics. The genetic response of the cells expresses proteins that generate: a. light by photo-luminescence or bioluminescence, b. electrochemical signal by in- teraction with a substrate, or c. change in the cell impedance. The cell response is detected by a front end unit that con- verts it to current or voltage amplifies and filters it. The resultant signal is analyzed and stored for further processing. In this paper we describe three examples of whole-cell bio chips, photo-luminescent, bioluminescent and electrochemical, which are based on the genetic response of genetically modified E. coli microbes integrated on a micro-fluidics MEMS platform. We describe the chip outline as well as the basic modeling scheme of such sensors. We discuss the highlights and problems of such system, from the point of view of micro-system-technology.
Toxicological sciences : an official journal of the Society of Toxicology, 2014
The risk posed by complex chemical mixtures in the environment to wildlife and humans is increasi... more The risk posed by complex chemical mixtures in the environment to wildlife and humans is increasingly debated, but has been rarely tested under environmentally relevant scenarios. To address this issue, two mixtures of 14 or 19 substances of concern (pesticides, pharmaceuticals, heavy metals, polyaromatic hydrocarbons, a surfactant, and a plasticizer), each present at its safety limit concentration imposed by the European legislation, were prepared and tested for their toxic effects. The effects of the mixtures were assessed in 35 bioassays, based on 11 organisms representing different trophic levels. A consortium of 16 laboratories was involved in performing the bioassays. The mixtures elicited quantifiable toxic effects on some of the test systems employed, including i) changes in marine microbial composition, ii) microalgae toxicity, iii) immobilization in the crustacean Daphnia magna, iv) fish embryo toxicity, v) impaired frog embryo development, and vi) increased expression on ...
We present a novel microbial whole-cell sensing system for biodefense and envi-ronmental pollutio... more We present a novel microbial whole-cell sensing system for biodefense and envi-ronmental pollution monitoring. Real time water toxicity monitoring is achieved us-ing genetically engineered E. coli bioluminescent cells which emit light when ex-posed to toxic materials. The illumination intensity and its time dependence are a function of the toxicants dose and type. The bacteria are immobilized in a dispos-able PDMS biochip that provides live cell maintenance and micro fluidics channels for sample injection. Several bacteria strains have been developed, generating a unique response signature for different toxins. INTRODUCTION Environmental pollution monitoring and maintaining the quality and security of drinking water have always been an important factor in assuring public welfare and health. Consequently, much effort is being devoted to developing fast and portable water toxicity detection systems. A promising biosensing scheme is based on bio-luminescence whole-cell biosensors [1], ...
Whole-cell bio-chips for functional sensing integrate living cells on miniaturized platforms made... more Whole-cell bio-chips for functional sensing integrate living cells on miniaturized platforms made by micro- system-technologies (MST). The cells are integrated, deposited or immersed in a media which is in contact with the chip. The cells behavior is monitored via electrical, electrochemical or optical methods. In this paper we describe such whole- cell biochips where the signal is generated due to the genetic response of the cells. The solid-state platform hosts the bio- logical component, i.e. the living cells, and integrates all the required micro-system technologies, i.e. the micro- electronics, micro-electro optics, micro-electro or magneto mechanics and micro-fluidics. The genetic response of the cells expresses proteins that generate: a. light by photo-luminescence or bioluminescence, b. electrochemical signal by in- teraction with a substrate, or c. change in the cell impedance. The cell response is detected by a front end unit that con- verts it to current or voltage amplifies and filters it. The resultant signal is analyzed and stored for further processing. In this paper we describe three examples of whole-cell bio chips, photo-luminescent, bioluminescent and electrochemical, which are based on the genetic response of genetically modified E. coli microbes integrated on a micro-fluidics MEMS platform. We describe the chip outline as well as the basic modeling scheme of such sensors. We discuss the highlights and problems of such system, from the point of view of micro-system-technology.
Toxicological sciences : an official journal of the Society of Toxicology, 2014
The risk posed by complex chemical mixtures in the environment to wildlife and humans is increasi... more The risk posed by complex chemical mixtures in the environment to wildlife and humans is increasingly debated, but has been rarely tested under environmentally relevant scenarios. To address this issue, two mixtures of 14 or 19 substances of concern (pesticides, pharmaceuticals, heavy metals, polyaromatic hydrocarbons, a surfactant, and a plasticizer), each present at its safety limit concentration imposed by the European legislation, were prepared and tested for their toxic effects. The effects of the mixtures were assessed in 35 bioassays, based on 11 organisms representing different trophic levels. A consortium of 16 laboratories was involved in performing the bioassays. The mixtures elicited quantifiable toxic effects on some of the test systems employed, including i) changes in marine microbial composition, ii) microalgae toxicity, iii) immobilization in the crustacean Daphnia magna, iv) fish embryo toxicity, v) impaired frog embryo development, and vi) increased expression on ...
We present a novel microbial whole-cell sensing system for biodefense and envi-ronmental pollutio... more We present a novel microbial whole-cell sensing system for biodefense and envi-ronmental pollution monitoring. Real time water toxicity monitoring is achieved us-ing genetically engineered E. coli bioluminescent cells which emit light when ex-posed to toxic materials. The illumination intensity and its time dependence are a function of the toxicants dose and type. The bacteria are immobilized in a dispos-able PDMS biochip that provides live cell maintenance and micro fluidics channels for sample injection. Several bacteria strains have been developed, generating a unique response signature for different toxins. INTRODUCTION Environmental pollution monitoring and maintaining the quality and security of drinking water have always been an important factor in assuring public welfare and health. Consequently, much effort is being devoted to developing fast and portable water toxicity detection systems. A promising biosensing scheme is based on bio-luminescence whole-cell biosensors [1], ...
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