Device and methods for detecting the response of a plurality of cells to at least one analyte of interest

• US 20050014129A1
• Filed: 08/06/2002
• Published: 01/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vanderbilt University
• Original Assignee: Vanderbilt University
• Inventors: Wikswo, John P., Cliffel, David, Baudenbacher, Franz J., Gilligan, Jonathan M., Balcarcel, R. Robert, Eklund, Sven
• Granted Patent: US 7,713,733 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/4
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 41/32 of substances in solution
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2015/1006 for cytology
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/5005 involving human or animal cells immunoassay G01N33/56966; immunoassays of protozoa G01N33/56905; protozoa in screening assays C12Q1/025
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/5023 on expression patterns
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/5038 involving detection of metabolites per se
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/5041 involving analysis of members of signalling pathways
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/115831 Condition or time responsive

Abstract

An apparatus and methods for detecting at least one analyte of interest either produced or consumed by a plurality of cell. In one embodiment of the present invention, the method includes the steps of providing a housing defining a chamber, placing a plurality of cells in the chamber, and simultaneously detecting at least two analytes of interest either produced or consumed by the plurality of cells in the chamber.

Claims

1. A method for detecting at least one analyte of interest either produced or consumed by a plurality of cell, comprising the steps of:

a. providing a housing defining a chamber,

b. placing a plurality of cells in the chamber; and

c. simultaneously detecting at least two analytes of interest either produced or consumed by the plurality of cells in the chamber.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the detecting step comprises the step of using a first electrode to detect one of the at least two analytes of interest and a second electrode to detect another of the at least two analytes of interest.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the first electrode and the second electrode have different electrochemical characteristics.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the first electrode comprises a gold electrode and the second electrode comprises a platinum electrode.

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of providing a potentiostat electrically coupled to the first electrode and the second electrode for detecting a voltage as a function of the two analytes of interest either produced or consumed by the plurality of cells in the chamber.

6. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of providing a reference electrode, and an amperemeter electrically coupled to the first electrode and the second electrode for detecting a current as a function of the two analytes of interest either produced or consumed by the plurality of cells in the chamber.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the detecting step comprises the step of using an optical detector to detect one of the at least two analytes of interest.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the optical detector comprises an optical fiber.

9. A device for detecting at least one analyte of interest either produced or consumed by a plurality of cell, wherein the plurality of cells is placed in a chamber, comprising means for simultaneously detecting at least two analytes of interest either produced or consumed by the plurality of cells in the chamber.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the simultaneously detecting means comprises a first electrode to detect one of the at least two analytes of interest and a second electrode to detect another of the at least two analytes of interest, the first electrode and the second electrode positioned apart from each other.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the first electrode and the second electrode have different electrochemical characteristics.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the first electrode comprises a gold electrode and the second electrode comprises a platinum electrode.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising a potentiostat electrically coupled to the first electrode and the second electrode for detecting a voltage as a function of the two analytes of interest either produced or consumed by the plurality of cells in the chamber.

14. The device of claim 10, further comprising a reference electrode, and an amperemeter electrically coupled to the first electrode and the second electrode for detecting a current as a function of the two analytes of interest either produced or consumed by the plurality of cells in the chamber.

15. The device of claim 9, further comprising an inlet in fluid communication with the chamber for introducing a medium into the chamber.

16. The device of claim 9, further comprising an outlet in fluid communication with the chamber for introducing a medium away from the chamber.

17. The device of claim 9, further comprising an optical detector to detect one of the at least two analytes of interest

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the optical detector comprises an optical fiber.

19. A method for detecting a plurality of analytes of interest either produced or consumed by a plurality of cell, comprising the steps of:

a. providing a housing defining a chamber;

b. placing a plurality of cells in the chamber; and

c. simultaneously detecting a plurality of analytes of interest either produced or consumed by the plurality of cells in the chamber.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the detecting step comprises the step of using a plurality of electrodes to detect the plurality of analytes of interest, respectively.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the plurality of electrodes each has different electrochemical characteristics.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the plurality of electrodes comprise a gold electrode.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the plurality of electrodes comprise a platinum electrode.

24. The method of claim 19, wherein the detecting step comprises the step of using an optical detector to detect the plurality of analytes of interest.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the optical detector comprises an optical fiber.

26. A device for detecting a plurality of analytes of interest either produced or consumed by a plurality of cell, wherein the plurality of cells is placed in a chamber, comprising means for simultaneously detecting a plurality of analytes of interest either produced or consumed by the plurality of cells in the chamber.

27. The device of claim 26, wherein the simultaneously detecting means comprises a plurality of electrodes to detect the plurality of analytes of interest, respectively.

28. The device of claim 27, wherein the plurality of electrodes each has different electrochemical characteristics.

29. The device of claim 27, wherein the plurality of electrodes comprise a gold electrode.

30. The device of claim 27, wherein the plurality of electrodes comprise a platinum electrode.

31. The device of claim 27, further comprising a reference electrode, and an amperemeter electrically coupled to the plurality of electrodes, respectively, for detecting a current as a function of the plurality of analytes of interest either produced or consumed by the plurality of cells in the chamber.

32. The device of claim 27, further comprising a potentiostat electrically coupled to the plurality of electrodes, respectively, for detecting a voltage as a function of the plurality of analytes of interest either produced or consumed by the plurality of cells in the chamber.

33. The device of claim 27, further comprising an inlet in fluid communication with the chamber for introducing a medium into the chamber.

34. The device of claim 27, further comprising an outlet in fluid communication with the chamber for introducing a medium away from the chamber.

35. The device of claim 27, further comprising an optical detector to detect the at least one of the plurality of analytes of interest.

36. The device of claim 35, wherein the optical detector comprises an optical fiber.

37. A device for detecting at least one analyte of interest either produced or consumed by at least one cell wherein the at least one cell is placed in a chamber, comprising:

a. an inlet in fluid communication with the chamber,

b. a first electrode having a first electrochemical characteristic; and

c. a second electrode positioned away from the first electrode and having a second electrochemical characteristic,

wherein the first electrode detects a first analyte of interest either produced or consumed by at least one cell, and the second electrode detects a second analyte of interest by at least one cell, respectively and simultaneously.

38. The device of claim 37, further comprising a reference electrode, and an amperemeter electrically coupled to the first electrode and the second electrode for detecting a current as a function of the two analytes of interest either produced or consumed by at least one cell in the chamber.

39. The device of claim 37, further comprising a potentiostat electrically coupled to the first electrode and the second electrode for detecting a voltage as a function of the two analytes of interest either produced or consumed by at least one cell in the chamber.

40. The device of claim 37, further comprising additional electrodes, each having a different electrochemical characteristic and being positioned away from the first and second electrodes.

41. The device of claim 37, further comprising an outlet in fluid communication with the chamber for introducing a medium away from the chamber.

42. The device of claim 37, further comprising an optical detector to detect optical signatures of intracellular physiological processes of the cell.

43. The device of claim 37, further comprising an optical detector to detect at least one of the analytes of interest.

44. The device of claim 43, wherein the optical detector comprises an optical fiber having a first end, a second end and a body portion defined therebetween.

45. The device of claim 43, wherein the first end of the optical fiber reaches in the chamber capable of detecting an optical signal related to the two analytes of interest either produced or consumed by at least one cell.

46. The device of claim 43, wherein the optical detector further comprises:

a. a cover slip member having a first surface and a second surface, wherein the first surface of the cover slip is underneath the chamber and the second surface of the cover slip is optically coupled to the first end of the optical fiber; and

b. a light source optically coupled to the second end of the optical fiber.

47. The device of claim 46, further comprising:

a. a beam splitter optically coupled to the optical fiber and positioned between the light source and the cover slip for directing optical signals transmitted through the optical fiber corresponding to the optical response from a first direction to a second direction; and

b. an analyzer for receiving the optical signals directed by the beam splitter.