A photovoltage-based integrated sensor for nephrotoxicity evaluation under drug stimulation

A monolithically integrated sensor based on photovoltage technique is developed for kidney metabolism detection under drug toxicity. The sensor utilizes the light-addressable potentiometric sensor with an electrolyte-insulator-semiconductor (EIS) structure for measuring cellular metabolic rate, and a gold metal layer is deposited on partial surface of silicon dioxide for extracellular redox (reduction-oxidation) potential detection. The neonatal rat's kidney cells are confined to a flow chamber with a volume of 50 μl, in which the constructed sensor continuously monitoring the rate of acid metabolites, and the redox potential in extracellular microenvironment. The synthesis parameters detected reflect the cellular metabolic and active condition after drug stimulation, which demonstrates the potentials for nephrotoxicity evaluation and preclinical drug screening.