Abstract
Cell-based biosensors (CBBs) utilize the principles of cell-based assays (CBAs) by employing living cells for detection of different analytes from environment, food, clinical, or other sources. For toxin detection, CBBs are emerging as unique alternatives to other analytical methods. The main advantage of using CBBs for probing biotoxins and toxic agents is that CBBs respond to the toxic exposures in the manner related to actual physiologic responses of the vulnerable subjects. The results obtained from CBBs are based on the toxin-cell interactions, and therefore, reveal functional information (such as mode of action, toxic potency, bioavailability, target tissue or organ, etc.) about the toxin. CBBs incorporate both prokaryotic (bacteria) and eukaryotic (yeast, invertebrate and vertebrate) cells. To create CBB devices, living cells are directly integrated onto the biosensor platform. The sensors report the cellular responses upon exposures to toxins and the resulting cellular signals are transduced by secondary transducers generating optical or electrical signals outputs followed by appropriate read-outs. Examples of the layout and operation of cellular biosensors for detection of selected biotoxins are summarized.
Highlights
Biosensors are devices that incorporate biological entities for analyses of target analytes [1]
The present review summarizes the major research efforts on the development of detection methodologies for different toxins utilizing Cell-based biosensors (CBBs) based on different cell-based assays (CBAs) principles as the scientific and physiological basis of the sensor
A synopsis of some recent examples of biotoxin detection using CBB is provided with particular focus on the foodborne toxins; toxins related to marine environment; and the botulinum neurotoxins
Summary
Biosensors are devices that incorporate biological entities for analyses of target analytes [1]. Cell-based biosensors (CBBs) recruit viable whole cells as the sensing unit to report the presence of a particular analyte or a group of analytes These sensors may use bacteria, yeast or higher eukaryotic cells including vertebrate or mammalian cells. The information about the biological activity of toxic substances including biotoxins can be obtained by cell-based sensors These sensors, unlike other nucleic acid or antibody-based ones, respond to the toxins in a physiologically relevant manner, yielding information on the mechanism of action, and toxicological outcome of exposures. The present review summarizes the major research efforts on the development of detection methodologies for different toxins utilizing CBBs based on different CBA principles as the scientific and physiological basis of the sensor. This review sheds light on the advantages, challenges, and the future of cell-based sensors in toxin detection applications
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