Real-time cancer cell detection and cell adhesion on implant materials surface
Application Note #154
(upper panel) Binding of stem cells (AD-MSC) on ceramic hydroxyapatite surface was determined for orthopedic prosthesis development. (lower panel) Binding of breast cancer cells (MCF7) to target peptide was measured to develop biosensor for cancer detection from blood sample.
Implants are covered with proteins and cells when introduced into the body. To understand interactions on these interfaces, in vitro tools are utilized. Real-time label-free platforms allowing dynamic and static flow-conditions are exploited to understand cell adhesion and in this way improve compatibility of implants. The same features are advantageous also for biosensor development based on cell detection. Cells can also be used as an analyte in a clinical biosensor (for cancer) study.
Attachment of human mesenchymal stem cells (AD-MSC) and lysozyme protein on a few tens of micrometers thick hydroxyapatite (HA), coated by plasma spraying, was measured by Multi-Parametric Surface Plasmon Resonance (MP-SPR). Hydroxyapatite is a component present in tooth and bone and in its synthetic form it is widely used in orthopedic prosthesis to enhance implant osseointegration (connection to a living bone). The results of MP-SPR measurements showed that cells favor binding on HA coating as opposed to gold.
In a separate experiment, a biosensor was developed to detect tumor cells. Binding of breast cancer cells (MCF7) and non-cancerous cells (MCF-10A) to a surface bound targeting peptide (18-4) and a reference peptide were measured. The biosensor surface was able to distinguish cancer cells from normal cells.
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Further reading
- If you are interested in living cell studies and biosensors, you may also view AN#156 about nanoparticle uptake by living cells and AN#160 about bacteria detection from powdered milk. If you are interested in material characterization, you may also view AN#149 about polymer characterization using MP-SPR.
- Have a look at abstracts of original publications here: Vilardell et al. (2016) and Etayash et al. (2016)
- Do you want to see how MP-SPR instruments work? Click here
- Do you want to see comparison of MP-SPR instruments? Click here