University of Leicester
Browse

Fluorescence-based assay as a new screening tool for toxic chemicals

Download (687.53 kB)
journal contribution
posted on 2016-11-11, 15:48 authored by E. Moczko, Evgeny M. Mirkes, C. Cáceres, Alexander N. Gorban, Sergey Piletsky
Our study involves development of fluorescent cell-based diagnostic assay as a new approach in high-throughput screening method. This highly sensitive optical assay operates similarly to e-noses and e-tongues which combine semi-specific sensors and multivariate data analysis for monitoring biochemical processes. The optical assay consists of a mixture of environmental-sensitive fluorescent dyes and human skin cells that generate fluorescence spectra patterns distinctive for particular physico-chemical and physiological conditions. Using chemometric techniques the optical signal is processed providing qualitative information about analytical characteristics of the samples. This integrated approach has been successfully applied (with sensitivity of 93% and specificity of 97%) in assessing whether particular chemical agents are irritating or not for human skin. It has several advantages compared with traditional biochemical or biological assays and can impact the new way of high-throughput screening and understanding cell activity. It also can provide reliable and reproducible method for assessing a risk of exposing people to different harmful substances, identification active compounds in toxicity screening and safety assessment of drugs, cosmetic or their specific ingredients.

Funding

This work was supported by The Dr Hadwen Trust Research Grant (UK).

History

Citation

Scientific Reports, 2016, 6:33922

Author affiliation

/Organisation/COLLEGE OF SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING/Department of Mathematics

Version

  • VoR (Version of Record)

Published in

Scientific Reports

Publisher

Nature Publishing Group

issn

2045-2322

eissn

2045-2322

Acceptance date

2016-08-23

Available date

2016-11-11

Publisher version

http://www.nature.com/articles/srep33922

Notes

Supplementary information accompanies this paper at http://www.nature.com/srep

Language

en

Usage metrics

    University of Leicester Publications

    Categories

    No categories selected

    Licence

    Exports

    RefWorks
    BibTeX
    Ref. manager
    Endnote
    DataCite
    NLM
    DC