Single Osteoblast Chemical Sensor via Non-invasive Bio-Electronic Interface

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe broad-spectrum sensitivity of cell based biosensors offers the capability for detecting known and unknown chemical/biological agents. One cellular parameter that is often measured is the extracellular potential of electrically active cells. Membrane excitability in osteoblasts plays a key role in modulating the electrical activity in the presence of chemical agents. However, the complexity of this signal makes interpretation of the cellular response to a chemical agent difficult to interpret. By analyzing shifts in the signal's power spectrum, it is possible to determine a frequency spectrum also known as Signature Pattern Vectors (SPV) specific to a chemical. We used a 5x5 multiple microelectrode array system to spatially position osteoblast cells, by using a gradient AC field. Fast Fourier Transformation (FFT) analyses were used to extract information pertaining to the frequency of firing from the extracellular potential.