Sensor for detecting stem cell differentiation based on electrochemical methods

Abstract

This invention relates to a sensor for detecting a stem cell differentiation, including (a) an electrode; and (b) a substrate of an alkaline phosphatase. The phosphorylation or dephosphorylation of the substrate for an alkaline phosphatase as a stem cell undifferentiation marker which dephosphorylates its substrate may be measured using an electrical signal in the present sensor. Therefore, the sensor of the present invention enables to electrically detect a stem cell status in a high-throughput manner and to determine the stem cell differentiation.

1 . A sensor for detecting a stem cell differentiation, comprising: (a) an electrode; and (b) a substrate for an alkaline phosphatase. 
     
     
         2 . The sensor according to  claim 1 , wherein the electrode is selected from the group consisting of a gold, copper, glass carbon, platinum and Ag/AgCl electrode. 
     
     
         3 . The sensor according to  claim 1 , wherein the substrate is selected from the group consisting of 1-naphthyl phosphate, calcium phosphate, phenyl phosphate, 2-aminophenyl phosphate, 4-aminophenyl phosphate, p-aminophenyl phosphate, 3-indoxyl phosphate, 5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indoxyl phosphate, 4-methylumbelliferyl phosphate, 6-chloro-3-indoxyl phosphate and hydroquinone diphosphate. 
     
     
         4 . The sensor according to  claim 1 , wherein the stem cell is an embryonic stem cell or a germ stem cell. 
     
     
         5 . The sensor according to  claim 1 , wherein the stem cell comprises an alkaline phosphatase where the stem cell is an undifferentiated stem cell; and the stem cell comprises no alkaline phosphatase where the stem cell is a differentiated stem cell. 
     
     
         6 . The sensor according to  claim 1 , wherein the sensor measures the phosphorylation or dephosphorylation of the substrate for alkaline phosphatase on the stem cell through an electrical signal to determine the differentiation of the stem cell. 
     
     
         7 . The sensor according to  claim 6 , wherein the dephosphorylated substrate is selected from the group consisting of 1-naphtol, calcium ion, phenol, 2-aminophenol, 4-aminophenol, p-aminophenol, 3-indoxol, 5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indoxol, 4-methylumbelliferol, 6-chloro-3-indoxol and hydroquinone. 
     
     
         8 . A method for determining a stem cell differentiation, comprising the steps of:
 (a) preparing the sensor for detecting the stem cell differentiation according to  claim 1 ;   (b) contacting cells of interest to the sensor; and   (c) measuring the phosphorylation or dephosphorylation of a substrate for alkaline phosphatase on the cells through an electrical signal.