Whole-cell biochips for bio-sensing: integration of live cells and inanimate surfaces

• Published in: Critical reviews in biotechnology Vol. 31; no. 4; pp. 337 - 353
• Main Authors: Ben-Yoav, Hadar, Melamed, Sahar, Freeman, Amihay, Shacham-Diamand, Yosi, Belkin, Shimshon
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Informa Healthcare 01.12.2011; Taylor & Francis
• Subjects: adherence; bacteria; Bacteria - isolation & purification; Biological and medical sciences; Biological cell deposition; Biosensing Techniques - instrumentation; Biosensing Techniques - methods; Biosensors; Biotechnology; Cell Adhesion; Cell Survival; cell-substrate interface; Cells, Immobilized - cytology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; immobilized cells; Methods. Procedures. Technologies; Microarray Analysis - instrumentation; Microarray Analysis - methods; Microfluidic Analytical Techniques - methods; moieties; monitoring; surface modification; Surface Properties; Various methods and equipments; viability; Biochip; adherence; surface modification; cell-substrate interface; System on a chip; biosensors; Microarray; Adhesion; Substrate; Biosensor; Bacteria; Biological cell deposition; Deposition
• ISSN: 0738-8551; 1549-7801; 1549-7801
• DOI: 10.3109/07388551.2010.532767

Recent advances in the convergence of the biological, chemical, physical, and engineering sciences have opened new avenues of research into the interfacing of diverse biological moieties with inanimate platforms. A main aspect of this field, the integration of live cells with micro-machined platforms for high throughput and bio-sensing applications, is the subject of the present review. These unique hybrid systems are configured in a manner that ensures positioning of the cells in designated patterns, and enables cellular viability maintenance, and monitoring of cellular functionality. Here we review both animate and inanimate surface properties and how they affect cellular attachment, describe relevant modifications of both types of surfaces, list technologies for platform engineering and for cell deposition in the desired configurations, and discuss the influence of various deposition and immobilization methods on the viability and performance of the immobilized cells.