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Biochemical sensor uses cell-transistor combination
Christoph Hammerschmidt
(06/26/2007 6:20 AM EDT)
URL: http://eetimes.eu/germany/200000646
Researchers of the Max Planck Institute for Bio-chemistry (Martinsried, Germany) have succeeded in coupling a transistor to a single biological cell. The development could lay the foundation for future cell-transistor based biosensors, the institute said.
MUNICH, Germany — Researchers of the Max Planck Institute for Bio-chemistry (Martinsried, Germany) have succeeded in coupling a transistor to a single biological cell. The development could lay the foundation for future cell-transistor based biosensors, the institute said.
In order to develop selective measurement techniques for diagnostics applications, toxic materials detection and pharmaceutical agents' research, it would be desirable to connect highly specific biochemical receptors with microelectronics, the researchers explained in a press release. On the way to such a technology, the researchers have made progress.
They grew cells on a silicon chip consisting of a series of simple transistors. For the measurement they depended on cells which covered the gate electrode of a transistor. For their research, the team around Peter Frommherz selected a serotonin receptor.
Serotonin is a membrane-bound protein which plays an important role in the human nervous system. The electric voltage in the cell selected has been controlled by a specific electrode. When serotonin was administered, ion channels between transistor and in the cell were activated; causing a current through the transistor proportional to the ion current.
Unlike existing methods using so called patch clamp electrodes, the method developed by the Max Planck researchers does not destroy the cell.
The technique can be used to find relationships between dose rate and effect in pharmaceutical research, the institute explained. "By coupling a ligand-controlled ion channel to a transistor on cell level, we have created the basis for a receptor-cell-transistor based bio sensor technology", claimed Frommherz.
Christoph Hammerschmidt
(06/26/2007 6:20 AM EDT)
URL: http://eetimes.eu/germany/200000646
Researchers of the Max Planck Institute for Bio-chemistry (Martinsried, Germany) have succeeded in coupling a transistor to a single biological cell. The development could lay the foundation for future cell-transistor based biosensors, the institute said.
MUNICH, Germany — Researchers of the Max Planck Institute for Bio-chemistry (Martinsried, Germany) have succeeded in coupling a transistor to a single biological cell. The development could lay the foundation for future cell-transistor based biosensors, the institute said.
In order to develop selective measurement techniques for diagnostics applications, toxic materials detection and pharmaceutical agents' research, it would be desirable to connect highly specific biochemical receptors with microelectronics, the researchers explained in a press release. On the way to such a technology, the researchers have made progress.
They grew cells on a silicon chip consisting of a series of simple transistors. For the measurement they depended on cells which covered the gate electrode of a transistor. For their research, the team around Peter Frommherz selected a serotonin receptor.
Serotonin is a membrane-bound protein which plays an important role in the human nervous system. The electric voltage in the cell selected has been controlled by a specific electrode. When serotonin was administered, ion channels between transistor and in the cell were activated; causing a current through the transistor proportional to the ion current.
Unlike existing methods using so called patch clamp electrodes, the method developed by the Max Planck researchers does not destroy the cell.
The technique can be used to find relationships between dose rate and effect in pharmaceutical research, the institute explained. "By coupling a ligand-controlled ion channel to a transistor on cell level, we have created the basis for a receptor-cell-transistor based bio sensor technology", claimed Frommherz.
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