Integrated system based on thin film technologies for cell-based bioluminescence assays

This work presents a miniaturized lab-on-chip system suitable for monitoring the activity of living cells through the on-chip detection of their bioluminescence emission. The system integrates amorphous silicon diodes, acting as temperature and light sensors, and indium tin oxide film, acting as heater, on a single glass substrate. During its operation, the glass is thermally and optically coupled to the investigated cells and electrically connected to an electronic board, which controls the lab-on-chip temperature and monitors the sensor photocurrents. The proposed lab-on-chip is particularly attractive for the development of portable cell-based biosensors useful for biological activity monitoring as well as for cell cytotoxicity evaluation.