Application of scanning electrochemical microscopy to biological samples

A review of innovative electrochemical strategies for bioactive molecule detection and cell imaging: Current advances and challenges

Cellular heterogeneity poses a major challenge for tumor theranostics, requiring high-resolution intercellular bioanalysis strategies. Over the past decades, the advantages of electrochemical analysis, such as high sensitivity, good spatio-temporal resolution, and ease of use, have made it the preferred method to uncover cellular differences. To inspire more creative research, herein, we highlight seminal works in electrochemical techniques for biomolecule analysis and bioimaging. Specifically, micro/nano-electrode-based electrochemical techniques enable real-time quantitative analysis of electroactive substances relevant to life processes in the micro-nanostructure of cells and tissues. Nanopore-based technique plays a vital role in biosensing by utilizing nanoscale pores to achieve high-precision detection and analysis of biomolecules with exceptional sensitivity and single-molecule resolution. Electrochemiluminescence (ECL) technology is utilized for real-time monitoring of the behavior and features of individual cancer cells, enabling observation of their dynamic processes due to its capability of providing high-resolution and highly sensitive bioimaging of cells. Particularly, scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) and scanning ion conductance microscopy (SICM) which are widely used in real-time observation of cell surface biological processes and three-dimensional imaging of micro-nano structures, such as metabolic activity, ion channel activity, and cell morphology are introduced in this review. Furthermore, the expansion of the scope of cellular electrochemistry research by innovative functionalized electrodes and electrochemical imaging models and strategies to address future challenges and potential applications is also discussed in this review.

Electrochemical sensors for oral biofilm-biomaterials interface characterization: A review

Important processes related to the interaction of the oral microbiome with the tooth surface happen directly at the interface. For example, the chemical microenvironment that exists at the interface of microbial biofilms and the native tooth structure is directly involved in caries development. Consequentially, a critical understanding of this interface and its chemical microenvironment would provide novel avenues in caries prevention, including secondary caries that often occurs at the interface of the dental biofilm, tooth structure, and dental material. Electrochemical sensors are a unique quantitative tool and have the inherent advantages of miniaturization, stability, and selectivity. That makes the electrochemical sensors ideal tools for studying these critical biofilm microenvironments with high precision. This review highlights the development and applications of several novel electrochemical sensors such as pH, Ca2+ , and hydrogen peroxide sensors as scanning electrochemical microscope probes in addition to flexible pH wire sensors for real-time bacterial biofilm-dental surface and dental materials interface studies.

Real-time imaging of photosynthetic oxygen evolution from spinach using LSI-based biosensor

The light-driven splitting of water to oxygen (O2) is catalyzed by a protein-bound tetra-manganese penta-oxygen calcium (Mn4O5Ca) cluster in Photosystem II. In the current study, we used a large-scale integration (LSI)-based amperometric sensor array system, designated Bio-LSI, to perform two-dimensional imaging of light-induced O2 evolution from spinach leaves. The employed Bio-LSI chip consists of 400 sensor electrodes with a pitch of 250 μm for fast electrochemical imaging. Spinach leaves were illuminated to varying intensities of white light (400-700 nm) which induced oxygen evolution and subsequent electrochemical images were collected using the Bio-LSI chip. Bio-LSI images clearly showed the dose-dependent effects of the light-induced oxygen release from spinach leaves which was then significantly suppressed in the presence of urea-type herbicide 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea (DCMU). Our results clearly suggest that light-induced oxygen evolution can be monitored using the chip and suggesting that the Bio-LSI is a promising tool for real-time imaging. To the best of our knowledge, this report is the first to describe electrochemical imaging of light-induced O2 evolution using LSI-based amperometric sensors in plants.

Analysing single live cells by scanning electrochemical microscopy

Scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) offers single live cell activities along its topography toward cellular physiology and pathology.

Quantifying microbial chatter: scanning electrochemical microscopy as a tool to study interactions in biofilms

Bacteria are often found in their natural habitats as spatially organized biofilm communities. While it is clear from recent work that the ability to organize into precise spatial structures is important for fitness of microbial communities, a significant gap exists in our understanding regarding the mechanisms bacteria use to adopt such physical distributions. Bacteria are highly social organisms that interact, and it is these interactions that have been proposed to be critical for establishing spatially structured communities. A primary means by which bacteria interact is via small, diffusible molecules including dedicated signals and metabolic by-products; however, quantitatively monitoring the production of these molecules in time and space with the micron-scale resolution required has been challenging. In this perspective, scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) is discussed as a powerful tool to study microbe-microbe interactions through the detection of small redox-active molecules. We highlight SECM as a means to quantify and spatially resolve the chemical mediators of bacterial interactions and begin to elucidate the mechanisms used by bacteria to regulate the emergent properties of biofilms.

Recent Advances in Scanning Electrochemical Microscopy for Biological Applications

Scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) is a chemical microscopy technique with high spatial resolution for imaging sample topography and mapping specific chemical species in liquid environments. With the development of smaller, more sensitive ultramicroelectrodes (UMEs) and more precise computer-controlled measurements, SECM has been widely used to study biological systems over the past three decades. Recent methodological breakthroughs have popularized SECM as a tool for investigating molecular-level chemical reactions. The most common applications include monitoring and analyzing the biological processes associated with enzymatic activity and DNA, and the physiological activity of living cells and other microorganisms. The present article first introduces the basic principles of SECM, followed by an updated review of the applications of SECM in biological studies on enzymes, DNA, proteins, and living cells. Particularly, the potential of SECM for investigating bacterial and biofilm activities is discussed.

New Insight into Procedure of Interface Electron Transfer through Cascade System with Enhanced Photocatalytic Activity

Recombination of photogenerated electron-hole pairs is extremely limited in the practical application of photocatalysis toward solving the energy crisis and environmental pollution. A rational design of the cascade system (i.e., rGO/Bi₂ WO₆ /Au, and ternary composites) with highly efficient charge carrier separation is successfully constructed. As expected, the integrated system (rGO/Bi₂ WO₆ /Au) shows enhanced photocatalytic activity compared to bare Bi₂ WO₆ and other binary composites, and it is proved in multiple electron transfer (MET) behavior, namely a cooperative electron transfer (ET) cascade effect. Simultaneously, UV-vis/scanning electrochemical microscopy is used to directly identify MET kinetic information through an in situ probe scanning technique, where the "fast" and "slow" heterogeneous ET rate constants (K_eff ) of corresponding photocatalysts on the different interfaces are found, which further reveals that the MET behavior is the prime source for enhanced photocatalytic activity. This work not only offers a new insight to study catalytic performance during photocatalysis and electrocatalysis systems, but also opens up a new avenue to design highly efficient catalysts in photocatalytic CO₂ conversion to useful chemicals and photovoltaic devices.

Scanning electrochemical microscopy at the nanometer level

Chemical and electrochemical reactions at high temporal and spatial resolution can be studied using nanoscale SECM.

Multifunctional scanning ion conductance microscopy

Scanning ion conductance microscopy (SICM) is a nanopipette-based technique that has traditionally been used to image topography or to deliver species to an interface, particularly in a biological setting. This article highlights the recent blossoming of SICM into a technique with a much greater diversity of applications and capability that can be used either standalone, with advanced control (potential-time) functions, or in tandem with other methods. SICM can be used to elucidate functional information about interfaces, such as surface charge density or electrochemical activity (ion fluxes). Using a multi-barrel probe format, SICM-related techniques can be employed to deposit nanoscale three-dimensional structures and further functionality is realized when SICM is combined with scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM), with simultaneous measurements from a single probe opening up considerable prospects for multifunctional imaging. SICM studies are greatly enhanced by finite-element method modelling for quantitative treatment of issues such as resolution, surface charge and (tip) geometry effects. SICM is particularly applicable to the study of living systems, notably single cells, although applications extend to materials characterization and to new methods of printing and nanofabrication. A more thorough understanding of the electrochemical principles and properties of SICM provides a foundation for significant applications of SICM in electrochemistry and interfacial science.

Frontiers in Nanoscale Electrochemical Imaging: Faster, Multifunctional, and Ultrasensitive

A wide range of interfacial physicochemical processes, from electrochemistry to the functioning of living cells, involve spatially localized chemical fluxes that are associated with specific features of the interface. Scanning electrochemical probe microscopes (SEPMs) represent a powerful means of visualizing interfacial fluxes, and this Feature Article highlights recent developments that have radically advanced the speed, spatial resolution, functionality, and sensitivity of SEPMs. A major trend has been a coming together of SEPMs that developed independently and the use of established SEPMs in completely new ways, greatly expanding their scope and impact. The focus is on nanopipette-based SEPMs, including scanning ion conductance microscopy (SICM), scanning electrochemical cell microscopy (SECCM), and hybrid techniques thereof, particularly with scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM). Nanopipette-based probes are made easily, quickly, and cheaply with tunable characteristics. They are reproducible and can be fully characterized. Their response can be modeled in considerable detail so that quantitative maps of chemical fluxes and other properties (e.g., local charge) can be obtained and analyzed. This article provides an overview of the use of these probes for high-speed imaging, to create movies of electrochemical processes in action, to carry out multifunctional mapping such as simultaneous topography-charge and topography-activity, and to create nanoscale electrochemical cells for the detection, trapping, and analysis of single entities, particularly individual molecules and nanoparticles (NPs). These studies provide a platform for the further application and diversification of SEPMs across a wide range of interfacial science.

Scanning Electrochemical Microscopy (SECM): Fundamentals and Applications in Life Sciences

In recent years, scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) has made significant contributions to the life sciences. Innovative developments focusing on high-resolution imaging, developing novel operation modes, and combining SECM with complementary optical or scanning probe techniques renders SECM an attractive analytical approach. This chapter gives an introduction to the essential instrumentation and operation principles of SECM for studying biologically-relevant systems. Particular emphasis is given to applications aimed at imaging the activity of biochemical constituents such as enzymes, antibodies, and DNA, which play a pivotal role in biomedical diagnostics. Furthermore, the unique advantages of SECM and combined techniques for studying live cells is highlighted by discussion of selected examples.

Functional Imaging of Chemically Active Surfaces with Optical Reporter Microbeads

We have developed a novel approach to allow for continuous imaging of concentration fields that evolve at surfaces due to release, uptake, and mass transport of molecules, without significant interference of the concentration fields by the chemical imaging itself. The technique utilizes optical “reporter” microbeads immobilized in a thin layer of transparent and inert hydrogel on top of the surface. The hydrogel has minimal density and therefore diffusion in and across it is like in water. Imaging the immobilized microbeads over time provides quantitative concentration measurements at each location where an optical reporter resides. Using image analysis in post-processing these spatially discrete measurements can be transformed into contiguous maps of the dynamic concentration field across the entire surface. If the microbeads are small enough relative to the dimensions of the region of interest and sparsely applied then chemical imaging will not noticeably affect the evolution of concentration fields. In this work colorimetric optode microbeads a few micrometers in diameter were used to image surface concentration distributions on the millimeter scale.

Influence of hydrogen-oxidizing bacteria on the corrosion of low carbon steel: Local electrochemical investigations

Low carbon steel has been considered a suitable material for component of the multi-barrier system employed on the geological disposal of high-level radioactive waste (HLW). A non negligible amount of dihydrogen (H2) is expected to be produced over the years within the geological repository due to the anoxic corrosion of metallic materials and also to the water radiolysis. The influence of the activity of hydrogen-oxidizing bacteria (HOB) and iron-reducing bacteria (IRB) on carbon steel corrosion is considered in this study because of the high availability of energetic nutriments (H2, iron oxides and hydroxides) produced in anoxic disposal conditions. Local electrochemical techniques were used for investigating the activity of IRB as a promoter of local corrosion in the presence of H2 as electron donor. A local consumption of H2 by the bacteria has been evidenced and impedance measurements indicate the formation of a thick layer of corrosion products.

Quantitative local photosynthetic flux measurements at isolated chloroplasts and thylakoid membranes using scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM)

Scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) offers a fast and quantitative method to measure local fluxes within photosynthesis. In particular, we have measured the flux of oxygen and ferrocyanide (Fe(CN)6(4-)), from the artificial electron acceptor ferricyanide (Fe(CN)6(3-)), using a stationary ultramicroelectrode at chloroplasts and thylakoid membranes (sourced from chloroplasts). Oxygen generation at films of chloroplasts and thylakoid membranes was detected directly during photosynthesis, but in the case of thylakoid membranes, this switched to sustained oxygen consumption at longer illumination times. An initial oxygen concentration spike was detected over both chloroplast and thylakoid membrane films, and the kinetics of the oxygen generation were extracted by fitting the experimental data to a finite element method (FEM) simulation. In contrast to previous work, the oxygen generation spike was attributed to the limited size of the plastoquinone pool, a key component in the linear electron transport pathway and a contributing factor in photoinhibition. Finally, the mobile nature of the SECM probe, and its high spatial resolution, also allowed us to detect ferrocyanide produced from a single thylakoid membrane. These results further demonstrate the power of SECM for localized flux measurements in biological processes, in this case photosynthesis, and that the high time resolution, combined with FEM simulations, allows the elucidation of quantitative kinetic information.

Towards single-cell analysis for pharmacokinetics

Traditional ‘macroscopic’ pharmacokinetics (PK) investigates the fate of drugs or toxicants administered externally to living organisms, described by the extent and rate of absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion. However, how a single cell affects a specific pharmaceutical after administration still remains a largely untouched area, primarily due to the technical restrictions imposed by minute amounts of chemicals involved. With the fast development of high-temporal and spatial-resolution detection techniques and single-cell handling techniques, it becomes possible to pursue single-cell PK. This review summarizes useful methodological and experimental techniques to investigate PK at the level of the single cell, including the microfluidics-based single-cell manipulation and the MS and electrochemical methods for single-cell analysis.

Redox reactions of reactive oxygen species in aqueous solutions as the probe for scanning electrochemical microscopy of single live T24 cells

The redox reactions of two main components of reactive oxygen species (ROS), superoxide and hydrogen peroxide, along with oxygen in aqueous solutions were investigated using a conventional electrochemical technique, differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). Superoxide undergoes oxidation at a Pt working electrode biased at 0.055 V versus Ag/AgCl, while hydrogen peroxide can be oxidized and reduced at 0.817 and –0.745 V, respectively. Oxygen in the solutions is reduced at the electrode with an applied potential of –0.455 V. Based on these results, hydrogen peroxide and superoxide released from live cells can be successfully monitored, identified, and mapped using scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) at different potentials. Single human bladder (T24) cells were imaged using a 5 μm diameter SECM probe biased at –0.400, –0.600, and –0.800 V. Oxygen reduction that seems an interference can be discriminated from that of hydrogen peroxide by means of SECM.

Metal Deposition by Inducing a Microgalvanic Cell with the Scanning Electrochemical Microscope (SECM)

A new mechanism of metal deposition on conducting surfaces is presented. But in contrast to former procedures where metal ions were deposited by electrolysis on a conducting cathodically polarised surface, now the deposition occurs without any additional electrochemical energy even if the substrate metal is more noble than the deposited metal. This phenomenon can be explained by the formation of a microgalvanic cell as a consequence of the tip reaction. The process is similar to the effects of a local element well known in corrosion science. The latter one is an undesirable effect due to surface impurities whereas the former one can be targeted on generating microstructures. In this paper, we will show that the mechanism of deposition is congenerous to that one of the positive feedback, since both may occur on a nonpolarised conducting surface. Both are “tip-induced” electrochemical cells with a positive electromotive force.

Monitoring of vesicular exocytosis from single cells using micrometer and nanometer-sized electrochemical sensors

Communication between cells by release of specific chemical messengers via exocytosis plays crucial roles in biological process. Electrochemical detection based on ultramicroelectrodes (UMEs) has become one of the most powerful techniques in real-time monitoring of an extremely small number of released molecules during very short time scales, owing to its intrinsic advantages such as fast response, excellent sensitivity, and high spatiotemporal resolution. Great successes have been achieved in the use of UME methods to obtain quantitative and kinetic information about released chemical messengers and to reveal the molecular mechanism in vesicular exocytosis. In this paper, we review recent developments in monitoring exocytosis by use of UMEs-electrochemical-based techniques including electrochemical detection using micrometer and nanometer-sized sensors, scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM), and UMEs implemented in lab-on-a-chip (LOC) microsystems. These advances are of great significance in obtaining a better understanding of vesicular exocytosis and chemical communications between cells, and will facilitate developments in many fields, including analytical chemistry, biological science, and medicine. Furthermore, future developments in electrochemical probing of exocytosis are also proposed.

Interrogation of surfaces for the quantification of adsorbed species on electrodes: oxygen on gold and platinum in neutral media

We introduce a new in situ electrochemical technique based on the scanning electrochemical microscope (SECM) operating in a transient feedback mode for the detection and direct quantification of adsorbed species on the surface of electrodes. A SECM tip generates a titrant from a reversible redox mediator that reacts chemically with an electrogenerated or chemically adsorbed species at a substrate of about the same size as the tip, which is positioned at a short distance from it (ca.1 microm). The reaction between the titrant and the adsorbate provides a transient positive feedback loop until the adsorbate is consumed completely. The sensing mechanism is provided by the contrast between positive and negative feedback, which allows a direct quantification of the charge neutralized at the substrate. The proposed technique allows quantification of the adsorbed species generated at the substrate at a given potential under open circuit conditions, a feature not attainable with conventional electrochemical methods. Moreover, the feedback mode allows the tip to be both the titrant generator and detector, simplifying notably the experimental setup. The surface interrogation technique we introduce was tested for the quantification of electrogenerated oxides (adsorbed oxygen species) on gold and platinum electrodes at neutral pH in phosphate and TRIS buffers and with two different mediator systems. Good agreement is found with cyclic voltammetry at the substrate and with previous results in the literature, but we also find evidence for the formation of "incipient oxides" which are not revealed by conventional voltammetry. The mode of operation of the technique is supported by digital simulations, which show good agreement with the experimental results.

Conductive supports for combined AFM-SECM on biological membranes

Four different conductive supports are analysed regarding their suitability for combined atomic force and scanning electrochemical microscopy (AFM-SECM) on biological membranes. Highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG), MoS(2), template stripped gold, and template stripped platinum are compared as supports for high resolution imaging of reconstituted membrane proteins or native membranes, and as electrodes for transferring electrons from or to a redox molecule. We demonstrate that high resolution topographs of the bacterial outer membrane protein F can be recorded by contact mode AFM on all four supports. Electrochemical feedback experiments with conductive cantilevers that feature nanometre-scale electrodes showed fast re-oxidation of the redox couple Ru(NH(3))(6)(3+/2+) with the two metal supports after prolonged immersion in electrolyte. In contrast, the re-oxidation rates decayed quickly to unpractical levels with HOPG or MoS(2) under physiological conditions. On HOPG we observed heterogeneity in the re-oxidation rate of the redox molecules with higher feedback currents at step edges. The latter results demonstrate the capability of conductive cantilevers with small electrodes to measure minor variations in an SECM signal and to relate them to nanometre-scale features in a simultaneously recorded AFM topography. Rapid decay of re-oxidation rate and surface heterogeneity make HOPG or MoS(2) less attractive for combined AFM-SECM experiments on biological membranes than template stripped gold or platinum supports.

Advances in the application of scanning electrochemical microscopy to bioanalytical systems

Scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) is a powerful surface characterisation technique that allows for the electrochemical profiling of surfaces with sub micrometer resolution. While SECM has been most widely used to electrochemically study and profile non-biological surfaces and processes, the technique has in recent years, been increasingly used for the study of biological systems - and this is the focus of this review. An overview of SECM and how the technique may be applied to the study of biological systems will first be given. SECM and its application to the study of cells, enzymes and DNA will each be considered in detail. The review will conclude with a discussion of future directions and scope for further developments and applications.

Review: Recent applications of scanning electrochemical microscopy to the study of charge transfer kinetics

Scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) has been proven to be a valuable technique for the quantitative investigation and surface analysis of a wide range of processes that occur at interfaces. In particular, there is a great deal of interest in studying the kinetics of charge transfer characteristics at the solid/liquid and liquid/liquid interface. This overview outlines recent advances and applications of SECM to the investigation of charge transfer reactions at the solid/liquid interface and liquid/liquid interface.

Imaging and detection of morphological changes of single cells before and after secretion using scanning electrochemical microscopy

Images of Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) have been obtained and the regulation of cell morphology changes after nitric oxide release has been recorded and discerned quantitatively for the first time using scanning electrochemical microscopy.

Scanning electrochemical microscopy in the 21st century

The fundamentals of and recent advances in scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) are described. The focus is on applications of this method to studies of systems and processes of active current interest ranging from nanoelectrochemistry to electron transfer reactions and electrocatalysis to biological imaging.

Scanning electrochemical microscopy: principles and applications to biophysical systems

This review highlights numerous and wide ranging biophysical and biochemical applications of scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM). SECM instrumentation and theoretical modelling, necessary for experimental interpretation, are outlined, followed by a detailed discussion of the diverse applications of this technique. These include the measurement of flow through membranes, the determination of kinetic parameters of reactions, the investigation of the permeability of small molecules in tissues and monitoring biological processes, such as the production of oxygen or nitric oxide by cells. The significant impact of micro-electrochemical techniques on our understanding of basic physicochemical processes at biologically relevant interfaces is also considered. Studies reviewed include transport across and within bilayers and monolayers. Recent advances in SECM include the combination of SECM with other techniques, such as atomic force microscopy and optical microscopy. These developments are highlighted, along with prospects for the future.

Biological applications of scanning electrochemical microscopy: chemical imaging of single living cells and beyond

Recent applications of scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) to studies of single biological cells are reviewed. This scanning probe microscopic technique allows the imaging of an individual cell on the basis of not only its surface topography but also such cellular activities as photosynthesis, respiration, electron transfer, single vesicular exocytosis and membrane transport. The operational principles of SECM are also introduced in the context of these biological applications. Recent progress in techniques for high-resolution SECM imaging are also reviewed. Future directions, such as single-channel detection by SECM, high-resolution imaging with nanometer-sized probes, and combined SECM techniques for multidimensional imaging are also discussed.

Imaging of voltage-gated alamethicin pores in a reconstituted bilayer lipid membrane via scanning electrochemical microscopy

Voltage-gated biological ion channels were simulated by insertion of the peptaibol antibiotic alamethicin into reconstituted phosphatidylcholine bilayer lipid membranes (BLMs). Scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) was utilized to probe initial BLM resistivity, the insertion of alamethicin pores, and mass transport across the membrane. Acquired SECM images show the spatial location of inserted pore bundles, the verification of voltage control over the pore conformational state (open/closed), and variations in passive mass transport corresponding to different topographical areas of the BLM. SECM images were also used to evaluate overall BLM integrity prior to insertion as well as transport (flux in open state) and leakage (flux in closed state) currents following insertion.

Scanning electrochemical microscopy: detection of human breast cancer cells by redox environment

Scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) can be used to measure the redox activity of individual human breast cells. A chemical mediator (e.g. quinone) that rapidly crosses the membrane participates in intracellular redox reactions that are recorded on a microsecond timescale by an ultramicroelectrode positioned close to the membrane. Measurements of redox reactivity yield rate constants that are different for cancerous and non-transformed human breast cells. With non-transformed or metastatic cells, rate constants are modulated by altered expression or activity of protein kinase Calpha, an enzyme involved in the mechanism of cell metastasis. When used in two-dimensional scanning, SECM produces a spatially resolved redox map of an individual cell or field of cells and can detect individual breast cancer cells in a field of non-transformed cells. These studies identify a new technology for cancer detection and establish a framework for future analysis of malignant cells in human breast tissues and biopsies.

Chemical imaging of biological systems with the scanning electrochemical microscope

A brief overview on recent advances in the application of scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) to the investigation of biological systems is presented. Special emphasis is given to the mapping of local enzyme activity by SECM, which is exemplified by relevant original systems.

Proliferation assay on a silicon chip applicable for tumors extirpated from mammalians

We describe a novel anticancer drug sensitivity assay on a silicon chip applicable for tumors extirpated from in vivo mammalians. Human promyelocytic leukemia (HL-60) cells were subcutaneously (s.c.) inoculated in SCID mice, then removed 31 days after the inoculation. The cells were embedded in a small volume (18 nL) of a collagen-gel matrix on a pyramid-shaped silicon microstructure for further cultivation. The respiration activity of the cells on the chip was measured by scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM). The proliferation behavior was continuously monitored for 6 days. It seemed that the proliferation rate of the cells removed from the mice was lower than that cultured in a flask and conformed to that in mice. The effects of cisplatin (CDDP) and etoposide (VP-16) on the HL-60 cultured in vivo were in good agreement with those obtained by a conventional colorimetric assay. Our results suggest that the SECM-based assay is appropriate for biopsy specimens in a relatively short-time evaluation.

Scanning electrochemical microscopy of living cells. 4. Mechanistic study of charge transfer reactions in human breast cells

Scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) has recently been employed for probing the redox properties of individual mammalian cells. It was shown that intracellular redox activity can be probed noninvasively by measuring the rate of mediator regeneration by the cell. Depending on the properties of the mediator species (e.g., formal potential, ionic charge, and hydrophobicity), different steps can limit the rate of the mediator regeneration reaction. This paper describes the evaluation of several factors that determine the rates of different steps of the process. These include intracellular concentration of redox centers, mixed redox potential inside the cell, and the rate of membrane permeation by mediator species. The kinetic analysis has been carried out to clarify the origins of different rates of the overall charge-transfer reaction in different cell types and with different redox mediators. The results can be used to facilitate differentiation between different types of cells, for example, normal and metastatic breast cells, on the basis of differences in redox responses.

Characterization and manipulation of microscopic biochemically active regions by scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM)

Preparation and characterization of microscopic biochemically active regions are important for the development of miniaturized bioanalytical systems with proteins, such as miniaturized enzyme electrode arrays. Scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) has emerged as an ideal tool for prototyping such systems. The technique is based on electrochemical conversions of dissolved species at a micrometer-sized probe electrode. It offers several mechanisms for local surface modifications under conditions compatible with conservation of protein functionality of enzymes and antibodies. The subsequent imaging of the immobilized activity provides direct information about local immobilized enzyme activities. The working modes of the techniques are illustrated by recent studies from this laboratory for the design and characterization of patterned enzyme layers covalently linked to gold surfaces via thiol self-assembly chemistry.

Imaging localized horseradish peroxidase on a glass surface with scanning electrochemical/ chemiluminescence microscopy

Scanning electrochemical/chemiluminescence microscopy (SECM/SCLM) was developed for simultaneous imaging of chemiluminescence and topography of immobilized horseradish peroxidase (HRP) on a glass substrate. When the SECM tip for electrochemical generation of H2O2 scanned over the immobilized spot in an aqueous luminol solution, the immobilized enzymes catalyzed the oxidation of luminol to emit chemiluminescence, which was detected by a photon counter. The photon-counting intensity was plotted against the position of the tip to give a two-dimensional image, indicating the activity of immobilized enzymes. Since the current was sensitive to the topography of substrate, the topography image was also obtained by mapping the oxygen reduction current.