Multi-Parameter Whole-Cell Biosensing of Pesticide-Induced Effects on Insect Cells

Cell-based biosensors are valuable tools in ecotoxicology, as they provide sensitive alternatives to conventional chemical sensors. In combination with holistic transducers, they report on any impact on cell physiology as a whole, instead of quantifying just one chemical species. In environmental analysis, label-free and time-resolved whole-cell biosensors are particularly advantageous, as conventional endpoint assays provide limited information on response kinetics. We applied two complementary biosensor platforms to assess pesticide-induced effects on Kc167 cells derived from Drosophila melanogaster. Electric cell-substrate impedance sensing monitors pesticide-induced effects on cell adhesion through time-resolved capacitance measurements, while imaging microphysiometry (IMP) monitors cellular respiration by measuring oxygen consumption of cells adherent to an oxygen-sensitive optrode. Six commercial pesticides were studied in concentration-dependent exposures and compared, using a conventional resazurin-based viability assay. All three biosensors detected distinct, dose-dependent phenotypic responses to pesticide exposure, yielding pesticide-specific phenotypic scorecards, highlighting the value of multiparametric measurements. Furthermore, ECIS and IMP were integrated into a common sensor platform, enabling simultaneous monitoring of cell adhesion and respiration for the same cell population. The multimodal approach provides complementary, time-resolved information on pesticide-induced, phenotypic effects on insect cells as a basis for multiparametric screening of crop protection products.