Live-Cell Biosensors

Dear Colleagues,

Biosensors couple a bio-receptor to a transducer and a physico-chemical detector in order to transform a specific biological signature or activity into a digital signal. Transducers can be external to the cells, like in electrochemical methods, or can be incorporated into the cells, such as in optogenetic sensors. The detected biological event can be resolved in space at different levels, ranging from subcellular domains and organelles to individual cells and entire cell-population responses. In addition, the time resolution also varies largely between the different techniques available.

Here, we focus on biosensors to measure processes occurring in live cells. Different events can be measured that reflect the cell status or the response to a specific challenge, such as electrical activity, ion concentrations, second messenger dynamics, changes of cell volume and morphology, pH, metabolic and redox state, cell-cycle progression and proliferation, cell death and apoptosis, cell–cell interaction, hormones or neurotransmitters release, and mechanical strain. Optical and electrochemical biosensors may be applied to primary cells, cell lines, iPSCs, and in vivo. Furthermore, they are also a versatile tool in 3D cultures and organoids.

Monitoring biological events in live cells is important not only for basic research but also for drug discovery and development, toxicity screening, disease modelling, as well as clinical diagnostics and treatment. In this context, scientific progress is continuing to increase the content and/or throughput of biosensor-based screening, miniaturization, and application in vivo. 

Dr. Tiziana Cesetti
Prof. Dr. Rüdiger Rudolf
Prof. Dr. Mathias Hafner
Guest Editors

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