Cellular biosensing system for assessing immunomodulating effects on the inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) cascade

A cellular biosensing system has been constructed to assess the biological safety/toxicity of chemicals. Detection of nitric oxide (NO) by the cellular biosensing system was used as a readout for assessing the immunomodulating effects of various chemicals, because some are known to induce NO synthase (iNOS) activity thereby increasing NO production. The macrophage-like cell line, RAW264.7, was cultured on the electrode coated with a polyion complex layer. The potent immune activating abilities of lipopolysaccharide could be verified by the cellular biosensing system: NO release from cells was detected within 600 ms by double potential step chronoamperometry.