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A prototype microfluidic chip using fluorescent yeast for detection of toxic compounds

Garcia-Alonso, Javier; García-Alonso, Javier; Greenway, Gillian M.; Hardege, Joerg D.; Haswell, Stephen J.

Authors

Javier Garcia-Alonso

Javier García-Alonso

Gillian M. Greenway

Joerg D. Hardege

Stephen J. Haswell



Abstract

A microfluidic chip has been developed to enable the screening of chemicals for environmental toxicity. The microfluidic approach offers several advantages over macro-scale systems for toxicity screening, including low cost and flexibility in design. This design flexibility means the chips can be produced with multiple channels or chambers which can be used to screen for different toxic compounds, or the same toxicant at different concentrations. Saccharomyces cerevisiae containing fluorescent markers are ideal candidates for the microfluidic screening system as fluorescence is emitted without the need of additional reagents. Microfluidic chips containing eight multi-parallel channels have been developed to retain yeast within the chip and allow exposure of them to toxic compounds. The recombinant yeast used was GreenScreen™ which expresses green fluorescent proteins when is exposed to genotoxins. After exposure of the yeast to target compounds, the fluorescence emission was detected using an inverted microscope. Qualitative and quantitative comparisons of the fluorescent emission were performed. Results indicated that fluorescent intensity per area significantly increases upon exposure to methyl-methanesulfonate, a well known genotoxic compound. The microfluidic approach reported here is an excellent tool for cell-based screening and detection of different toxicities. The device has the potential for use by industrial manufacturers to detect and reduce the production and discharge of toxic compounds, as well as to characterise already polluted environments. © 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Citation

García-Alonso, J., Greenway, G. M., Hardege, J. D., & Haswell, S. J. (2009). A prototype microfluidic chip using fluorescent yeast for detection of toxic compounds. Biosensors & bioelectronics, 24(5), 1508-1511. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bios.2008.07.074

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Jul 29, 2008
Online Publication Date Aug 13, 2008
Publication Date Jan 1, 2009
Deposit Date Nov 13, 2014
Journal Biosensors & Bioelectronics
Print ISSN 0956-5663
Electronic ISSN 1873-4235
Publisher Elsevier
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 24
Issue 5
Pages 1508-1511
DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bios.2008.07.074
Keywords Microfluidic chip; GFP; Toxicity screening; Yeast
Public URL https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/472888
Publisher URL https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0956566308004260?via%3Dihub
Contract Date Nov 23, 2017