Development of a rapid and sensitive bioassay device using human cells immobilized in macroporous microcarriers for the on-site evaluation of environmental waters

Shoji, R Sakai, Y Sakoda, A Suzuki, M

R. Shoji et al., Development of a rapid and sensitive bioassay device using human cells immobilized in macroporous microcarriers for the on-site evaluation of environmental waters, APPL MICR B, 54(3), 2000, pp. 432-438

9

INGLESE

Article

Biotecnology & Applied Microbiology",Microbiology

APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY

0175-7598 → ACNP

54

3

2000

432 - 438

ISI

0175-7598(200009)54:3<432:DOARAS>2.0.ZU;2-D

We developed a novel disposable bioassay device based on the fluorescein is othiocyanate-labelled low-density lipoprotein-uptake activity of human hepa toblastoma Hep G2 cells. The cells were cultured in porous microcarriers at a high cell density and packed in a filter lip that has a hydrophobic memb rane. Upon evaluation of water samples, the culture medium was decanted by pipetting it down with a micropipet, and the samples were then introduced t o the cell-immobilizing part of the tip only by pipetting them up after mix ing them with x10 concentrated culture medium. The new device enabled us to detect almost the same toxicity levels of river water within 2 h of exposu re as those detected by a conventional 48-h cell-survival assay. This is th e first bioassay device for the rapid on-site evaluation of environmental w aters using cultured human cells, and therefore promising for water-quality management based on risk to humans.