A novel multifunctional platform based on ITO/APTES/ErGO/AuNPs for long-term cell culture and real-time biomolecule monitoring.

Integrating long-term cell culture with real-time electrochemical monitoring is a promising strategy for future studies of physiological and pathological processes. However, great challenges still remain in fabricating such a platform with satisfactory electrochemical performance as well as desirable biocompatibility. Herein, we proposed a novel multifunctional platform based on gold nanoparticles/electrochemically reduced graphene oxide/3-aminopropyl-triethoxysilane modified indium tin oxide plate (ITO/APTES/ErGO/AuNPs). The unique biological and electrical properties of AuNPs and ErGO endow the platform with superior electrocatalytic activity and desirable biocompatibility. As a proof of concept, the present platform showed satisfactory electrochemical performance for sensitive and selective detection of hydrogen peroxide (HO) with a sensitivity about 0.25 μA μM cm and a detection limit of 0.38 μM in a linear range of 0.5-1461 μM. And the principle of catalytic reduction was clarified through density functional calculations (DFT). Furthermore, cells grew on the platform exhibited excellent proliferation ability and considerable viability after a long-term cultivation. Based on those desirable performances, in-situ and real-time monitoring of endogenously produced HO released from cancer cells cultured on the platform has been successfully realized, which will be of great significance in pathophysiology research.