Abstract
This paper presents a novel microchip-based cell response assay system for drug discovery. This system consists of two section, cell culture section and protein detection section, which were integrated into a microchip. The microspheres attached with hepatoma cell line HepG2 were captured in channels of the microchip, which lead to maintain metabolic function of the cells with required cell number. Cell stimulus could easily be achieved by introducing test compounds to the cell-immobilized channels, and secreted apolipoprotein A1 (ApoA1) from the cells was detected in the same channel by enzymelinked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). By this system, the compounds that induce secretion of ApoA1 were evaluated easier and more rapidly than by the conventional method. Copyright © 2005 by the Transducer Research Foundation, Inc.