CELLTOX

Integration of living cells with organic transistors for the rapid detection of toxins and enteric pathogens

 Partecipanti

Mappa

 Word cloud

Esplora la "nuvola delle parole (Word Cloud) per avere un'idea di massima del progetto.

 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'The epithelium plays a significant role in resistance to infection in mammals, and is made up of a single layer of elongated, column-shaped cells that line the stomach and colon. This single layer of epithelial cells restricts the entry of toxins and pathogens, while selectively absorbing nutrients that sustain the body. Pathogens have devised multiple mechanisms to destroy the integrity of the intestinal epithelial barrier, compromising the normal absorption of water in the intestine and thereby causing diarrheal disease. The World Health Organization estimates that in 2005 alone 1.8 million people died from diarrheal diseases. CELLTOX is a novel type of biosensor for the detection of enteric pathogens and toxins, based on the principle of using live epithelial cells grown on an organic electrochemical transistor (OECT), which provides a very sensitive and convenient means of measuring ionic transport. When the epithelial cells form a monolayer, the integrity of the cell monolayer prohibits ion transport keeping the transistor in the ON state. Assault of the cells by an enteric pathogen or toxin will lead to a disruption of the cell monolayer and enable ion migration into the polymer, switching the transistor OFF. This novel “canary in a coal mine” platform will constitute a broad first-line diagnostic for gastrointestinal disease, with applications for food and water safety. It will lead to sensors that are fast, portable, inexpensive and label-free. Future use of different cell lines (eg. bronchial, dermal, etc.) with this platform will lead to a host of sensors for applications in medical diagnostics, agriculture, and environmental protection. This multidisciplinary project encompasses the disciplines of organic electronics, cell biology and microbiology, and will contribute to the successful and lasting reintegration of the applicant back to Europe.'

Introduzione (Teaser)

According to the World Health Organisation, it is estimated that in 2005 alone 1.8 million people died from diarrheal diseases. Improved diagnostic tools are thus necessary to act promptly against these dismal statistics.

Descrizione progetto (Article)

The intestinal epithelium constitutes a major barrier against infections. It comprises a single layer of cells that line the stomach and colon. This restricts the entry of toxins and pathogens, while selectively absorbing nutrients that sustain the body. However, pathogens have devised ways of destroying the integrity of the intestinal epithelial barrier and compromising the normal absorption of water causing diarrhoea.

To advance detection of enteric pathogens, scientists on the EU-funded CELLTOX (Integration of living cells with organic transistors for the rapid detection of toxins and enteric pathogens) project developed a novel type of biosensor. This innovative device was based on the principle of using live epithelial cells grown on an organic electrochemical transistor (OECT).

Partners exploited the ability of organic electronic materials to conduct both electronic and ionic carriers. During the project, scientists demonstrated the integration of human epithelial cell layers with OECTs as a means of assessing barrier tissue integrity. When the cells get attacked by an enteric pathogen, the monolayer is disrupted and ions migrate into the polymer, switching the transistor to the off state.

In comparison with existing diagnostic methods, the CELLTOX device exhibited markedly higher sensitivity in the detection of a variety of toxins and pathogens, including the food borne pathogen Salmonella typhimurium. Through testing in milk, they demonstrated the feasibility for diagnostics in food and safety applications.

Low cost fabrication of the OECT guarantees portable and inexpensive sensors that can be used for high-throughput processing of samples. Despite the end of the project, the consortium is currently working on a prototype that will demonstrate this principle.

Overall, the CELLTOX device constitutes a highly sensitive, dynamic sensor for in vitro diagnostics of pathogens and toxins. Moreover, this device design can be adapted to suit various applications in medical diagnostics, agriculture, and environmental protection.