Advancements in Real-Time Mammalian Cell Metabolic Monitoring Using Miniaturized Sensor Platforms

The field of mammalian cell function sensors has seen significant advancements with the integration of advanced cell culture methods and novel miniaturized sensor platforms. These innovations have enabled real-time analysis of cellular metabolic changes by monitoring parameters such as oxygen consumption, proton/pH changes, and ATP production. Current research has also explored the measurement of nutrient and metabolite fluctuations over time. These sensor systems hold promise for applications in medical and environmental toxicity testing using well-characterized cell lines, spheroids, and primary cells. Additionally, they offer potential for pre-clinical testing of therapeutic drugs on patient cells to assess efficacy. Despite these advancements, there remains a need for more sophisticated sensor systems that can capture specific cell types and analyze their metabolic responses at both single-cell and multi-cell levels. This gap highlights the necessity for further research to enhance the capabilities of cell sensing technologies.

This Research Topic aims to explore and expand the development and application of sensor technologies for detecting and monitoring mammalian cells. The primary objectives include addressing specific questions related to the efficacy of these sensors in various applications, testing hypotheses about their performance in real-time analysis, and evaluating their potential in clinical and environmental settings. By focusing on these goals, the research aims to bridge existing gaps and provide a comprehensive understanding of the capabilities and limitations of current sensor technologies.

To gather further insights into the boundaries of this research, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:

- Sensors for monitoring mammalian cell viability and metabolism
- Sensors for mammalian cell selective recognition, capture, and characterization
- Sensors for biomarkers associated with biophysical mechanisms in mammalian cells
- Single- or multiple-cells sensors/arrays
- Electrochemical, optical, impedance, piezoelectric, magnetic, and physical sensors
- Applications including medical diagnostics, immune function, and toxin detection

Keywords: mammalian cell, biorecognition, capture, functional analysis, sensors, biosensors

Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.