Live cells-based cytotoxic sensor chip fabricated in a microfluidic system

We report here a live cells-based sensorchip fabricated in microfluidic channels in which several laminar flows were achieved. In addition, we established a cytotoxic sensor cell line, which was transfected with a green fluorescence protein (GFP) plasmid derived from the heat shock protein 70B´ (HSP70B´) promoter, which is induced by cytotoxic reagents. The fluorescence in the sensor cells increased in a CdCl₂ dose-dependent manner in the microfluidic channels. In this system, cytotoxic reagents can be quantitatively detected in a quick, sensitive and high-throughput manner. The combination of sensor cells and microfluidic systems will provide an important basis for the development of micro-total analysis systems (mu-TAS) technology, and can be applied to toxicology, environmental assessment and drug screening.