Voltammetric behavior of the heat-treating PC-3 cells and its application in drug sensitivity test

A novel and simple strategy for improving the voltammetric response of the cells by heat inactivation method had been proposed. By comparing the voltammetric behavior of the intact cell suspension with that of the fragmentized cell suspension, the results indicated that the former was weaker than the latter, and heat inactivation was superior to ultrasonication in improving the voltammetric response of the cells by increasing the release of the intracellulare guanine and xanthine into the cell eluent as a result of fragmenting the cell membrane. The comparison of cytotoxicity evaluations of the PC-3 cells based on the electrochemical method and the MTT assays suggested the antitumor drug sensitivity test based on the electrochemical method was credible, sensitive, rapid, inexpensive and objective.

Research highlights
► The voltammetric behavior of the intact cell suspension was weaker than that of the fragmented cell suspension.
► Heat inactivation was superior to ultrasonication in improving the voltammetric response of the cells.
► The electrochemical antitumor drug sensitivity test was credible.