Rapid and inexpensive biosensor technologies allowing real-time analysis of biomolecular and cellular events have become the basis of next-generation cell-based screening techniques. Our work opens up novel opportunities in the application of the high-throughput label-free Epic BenchTop optical biosensor in cell toxicity studies. The Epic technology records integrated cellular responses about changes in cell morphology and dynamic mass redistribution of cellular contents at the 100-150 nm layer above the sensor surface. The aim of the present study was to apply this novel technology to identify the effect of the herbicide Roundup Classic, its co-formulant polyethoxylated tallow amine (POEA), and its active ingredient glyphosate, on MC3T3-E1 cells adhered on the biosensor surface. The half maximal inhibitory concentration of Roundup Classic, POEA and glyphosate upon 1 h of exposure was found to be 0.024%, 0.021% and 0.163% in serum-containing medium and 0.028%, 0.019% and 0.538% in serum-free conditions, respectively (at concentrations equivalent to the diluted Roundup solution). These results showed a good correlation with parallel end-point assays, demonstrating the outstanding utility of the Epic technique in cytotoxicity screening, allowing not only high-throughput, real-time detection, but also reduced assay run time and cytotoxicity assessment at end-points far before cell death would occur.

允许实时分析生物分子和细胞事件的快速且廉价的生物传感器技术已成为下一代基于细胞的筛选技术的基础。我们的工作为高通量无标记 Epic BenchTop 光学生物传感器在细胞毒性研究中的应用开辟了新的机会。 Epic 技术记录了传感器表面上方 100-150 nm 层的细胞形态变化和细胞内容物动态质量重新分布的综合细胞反应。本研究的目的是应用这项新技术来确定除草剂 Roundup Classic、其助剂聚乙氧基化牛油胺 (POEA) 及其活性成分草甘膦对粘附在生物传感器表面的 MC3T3-E1 细胞的影响。发现在含血清培养基中暴露 1 小时后，农达经典、POEA 和草甘膦的半数最大抑制浓度分别为 0.024%、0.021% 和 0.163%，在无血清条件下分别为 0.028%、0.019% 和 0.538% （浓度相当于稀释的农达溶液）。这些结果显示与平行终点检测具有良好的相关性，证明了 Epic 技术在细胞毒性筛选中的出色实用性，不仅可以实现高通量、实时检测，还可以减少终点检测的运行时间和细胞毒性评估早在细胞死亡发生之前。