Impedance Detection and Modeling of Chemotherapeutic Agents by a Cancer Cell-Based Biosensor

Impedance detection on adherently growing cells by micro-electrodes provides useful analytical methods for cancer research. Colon adenocarcinoma is one of the most common types of gastrointestinal cancer. To improve the survival rate of colon adenocarcinoma patients, chemotherapy becomes more and more important among the standard clinical treatments. In this study, a cell based-biosensor was developed to determine the cytotoxicity of therapy medicines to colorectal cancer using the LS180 cell line. By analyzing the varying parameters in the membrane and cell nucleus in an impedance circuit model, the anticancer mechanisms of the drugs were deduced by impedance sensing. By real-time monitoring of the biosensor, time- and concentration- dependent impedance changes were detected under treatment medicines, such as oxaliplatin, 5-fluorouracil, and the more effective combination regimen. The cell-based biosensor combined with circuit modeling provides a promising approach for drug screening and developing new t...