Project Leader: Philippe Renaud of EPFL/STI/IMT/LMIS4 +41 21 693 2596
Nicolaas De Rooij of EPFL/STI/IMT/SAMLAB, expert in microsensors, microfluidics and
BioMEMS
Martial Geiser of HESSO-VS/SI, expert in optical sensors and electronic
systems
Hubert Girault of EPFL/SB/ISIC/LEPA, expert in electrochemistry and biosensors
Martha Liley of CSEM, expert in biochemistry, biosensors and cell
biology
Michael Riediker of IST - Institut de Santé au Travail, expert in environmental health
Jan van der Meer of UNIL/DMF, expert in microbial adaptation and bacterial
biosensors
Viola Vogel of ETHZ/MAT, expert in biological nanosystems and cell biology
A big challenge in environmental monitoring is to dispose of a base of autonomous remote nodes that are capable of locally collecting samples and sending biologically and chemically relevant information through a communication network. Analytical chemical methods commonly used are mostly based on sophisticated instrumentation which does not scale to miniature systems for deployment as field sensors. The use of biological entities such as cell lines or micro-organisms as the basis for assay methodologies has been well developed, and research has demonstrated their applicability for monitoring the environment for bioactive or toxic compounds. The response of cellbased sensors is related to a metabolic pathway and thus relevant to effects expected for human beings. In many cases, the response of cells and cell-based sensors is extremely sensitive. While the concept of cell-based biosensors has been researched for several years, their implementation is restricted to a few commercial applications that are not deployable as autonomous sensors.
This project addresses the need to improve the environmental monitoring of the many chemical and biological compounds that are affecting our biosphere and eventually human health. The idea is to use living cells as biosensors and to monitor them in a microfluidic bioreactor equipped with microsensors. Living cells are the most natural biosensors, since they integrate the biological effects of the compound mixtures and respond by metabolic or phenotypic changes that are relevant to potential effects in the human body. The projects aims at the realization of a complete autonomous microsystem that would include a cell culture microbioreactor, secondary sensors to measure cell response and monitor the microbioreactor process, a signal processing control unit and a wireless communication unit to link the microsystem to a sensor network.
The research is based on known cell models selected in two cell types: bacteria . used because there is already a wide experience on bacterial bioreporters and they are rather easy to culture . and eukaryotic cells . because their metabolic response to toxicants is more similar to reaction pathways in the human body. The microbioreactor will be integrated into a functional demonstrator for the deployment of a cell-based sensor network monitoring water quality in a Swiss river.
Co-pathological connected primary neurons in a microfluidic device for Alzheimer studies Kunze, R. Meissner, S. Brando, and P. Renaud. Biotechnology and Bioengineering, (0, 2011)
Development of a microfluidics biosensor for agarose-bead immobilized Escherichia coli bioreporter cells for arsenite detection in aqueous samples N. Buffi, D. Merulla, J. Beutier, F. Barbaud, S. Beggah, H. van Lintel, P. Renaud, J R. van der Meer, Lab Chip, (0, 2011)
Development of bioreporter assays for the detection of bioavailability of long-chain alkanes based on the marine bacterium Alcanivorax borkumensis strain SK2 R. Kumari, R. Tecon, S. Beggah, R. Rutler, J. S. Arey, J R. van der Meer, Environmental Microbiology (0, 2011)
Distinguishing drug-induced minor morphological changes from major cellular damage via label-free impedimetric toxicity screening R. Meissner, B. Eker, H. Kasi, A. Bertsch, P. Renaud. Lab Chip, (0, 2011)
Miniaturized bacterial biosensor system for arsenic detection holds great promise for making integrated measurement device N. Buffi, D. Merulla, J. Beutier, F. Barbaud, S. Beggah, H. van Lintel, P. Renaud, J R. van der Meer, Bioengineered Bugs, (0, 2011)
Continuous-flow multi-analyte biosensor cartridge with controllable linear response range O. Frey, S. Talaei, P. D. van der Wal, M. Koudelka-Hep and N. F. de Rooij, Lab Chip, (0, 2010)
Development of a Multistrain Bacterial Bioreporter Platform for the Monitoring of Hydrocarbon Contaminants in Marine Envirionments Tecon, R., Beggah, S., Czechowska, K., Sentchilo, V., Chronopoulou, P. M., McGenity, T. J., van der Meer, J. R., Environ Sci Technol (0, 2010)
Direct localised measurement of electrical resistivity profile in rat and embryonic chick retinas using a microprobe H. Kasi, R. Meissner, A. Babalian, H. van Lintel, A. Bertsch, and P. Renaud. Journal of Electrical Bioimpedance, (0, 2010)
Smart SU-8 pillars implemented in a microfluidic bioreactor for continuous measurement of glucose S. Talaei, O. Frey, S. Psoma, P. D. van der Wal and N. F. de Rooij, Procedia Engineering, (0, 2010)
Where microbiology meets microengineering: design and applications of reporter bacteria Van der Meer, J. R., Belkin, S. Nat Rev Microbiol, (0, 2010)
Hybrid microfluidic cartridge formed by irreversible bonding of SU-8 and PDMS for multi-layer flow applications S. Talaei, O. Frey, P. D. van der Wal, N. F. de Rooij and M. Koudelka-Hep, Procedia Chemistry, (0, 2009)
A big challenge in environmental monitoring is to dispose of a base of autonomous remote nodes that are capable of locally collecting samples and sending biologically and chemically relevant information through a communication network. Analytical chemical methods commonly used are mostly based on sophisticated instrumentation which does not scale to miniature systems for deployment as field sensors. The use of biological entities such as cell lines or micro-organisms as the basis for assay methodologies has been well developed, and research has demonstrated their applicability for monitoring the environment for bioactive or toxic compounds. The response of cellbased sensors is related to a metabolic pathway and thus relevant to effects expected for human beings. In many cases, the response of cells and cell-based sensors is extremely sensitive. While the concept of cell-based biosensors has been researched for several years, their implementation is restricted to a few commercial applications that are not deployable as autonomous sensors.
