A novel approach for monitoring extracellular acidification rates: based on bead injection spectrophotometry and the lab-on-valve system

Monitoring extracellular acidification rates (ECARs) is important for the study of cellular activities, since it allows for the evaluation of factors that alter metabolic function, such as stimulants, inhibitors, toxins as well as receptor and non-receptor mediated events. While the light addressable potentiometric sensor (Cytosensor® Microphysiometer) has been the principal tool for ECARs measurement in the past, this work introduces a novel method that exploits an immobilized pH indicator on the surface of microcarrier beads (Sephadex®) and is probed with a fiber optic coupled spectrophotometer. Likewise, live cells under investigation were also immobilized on microcarrier beads (Cytopore®). These beads are metered, transported and monitored within a microfluidic system, termed as the Lab-on-Valve (LOV). Use of carrier beads in conjunction with Bead Injection Spectrophotometry and a Lab-on-Valve module (BIS-LOV), makes ECAR measurements reliable and automated. The feasibility of the BIS-LOV approach is demonstrated measuring ECARs of the mouse hepatocyte cell line, TABX.2S, grown on Cytopore® beads packed within the central channel of the LOV system. These immobilized cells were perfused in a phosphate buffer carrier solution (capacity: 1 mmol L−1, pH 7.4). Protons extruded from 105 to 106 cells were accumulated during a stopped flow period of 220 s followed by a pH measurement, detected by changes in absorbance of the pH indicator bonded to the microcarrier beads. Addition of metabolic inhibitors (sodium azide, oxamic acid) to the carrier buffer solution can induced an increase or decrease of the basal proton extrusion rate in a very reproducible manner. Comparison of the BIS-LOV technique to the Cytosensor® microphysiometer and literature confirms the validity of this novel approach, highlighting its advantages and suggesting future improvements that will make the BIS-LOV a practical tool for routine ECARs measurement.