A Bio-Inspired Support of Gold Nanoparticles−Chitosan Nanocomposites Gel for Immobilization and Electrochemical Study of K562 Leukemia Cells

A novel nanocomposites gel was prepared by neutralizing a designer nanocomposites solution of chitosan encapsulated gold nanoparticles formed by reducing in situ tetrachloroauric acid in chitosan. The bio-inspired gel was designed for immobilization and electrochemical study of cells and monitoring adhesion, proliferation, and apoptosis of cells on electrodes. Using K562 leukemia cells as a model, an impedance cell sensor was constructed. The methods for preparation of the gel and immobilization of cells were simple and “green”. The nanocomposites gel showed improved immobilization capacity for cells and good biocompatibility for preserving the activity of immobilized living cells. The living cells immobilized on glassy carbon electrode exhibited an irreversible voltammetric response and increased the electron-transfer resistance with a good correlation to the logarithmic value of concentration ranging from 1.34 × 104 to 1.34 × 108 cells mL-1 with a limit of detection of 8.71 × 102 cells mL-1 at 10σ. This work implied that the nanocomposites gel based on biopolymer and nanoparticles possessed potential applications for biosensing and provided a new avenue for electrochemical investigation of cell adhesion, proliferation, and apoptosis.