Biosensors for directly measuring cell affecting agents.

Cellular perfusion chambers have been constructed from the Light Addressable Potentiometric Sensor (LAPS) previously described. The authors have used these chambers to measure the effects of a variety of agents on the metabolic rates of cells. The chambers are used in a stopped flow mode. When flow is on, samples may be introduced to the chamber. When flow is stopped, acidification of the very small volume of medium in the chamber is used to determined the metabolic rate of the cells. Using a variety of types of mammalian cells the authors have demonstrated the following. The triggering of cellular receptors can be determined in minutes. Metabolic inhibition of normal human cells by a test compound can be correlated with the compounds in vivo ocular irritancy. And the efficacy of chemotherapeutic agents on tumor cells exhibiting multidrug resistance can be determined in a few hours.