Graphene oxide/poly-l-lysine assembled layer for adhesion and electrochemical impedance detection of leukemia K562 cancercells

A novel biocompatible film assembled by combining of graphene oxide (GO) and poly-l-lysine (PLL) for adhesion and electrochemical impedance detection of leukemia K562 cells was proposed. The biocompatible film showed an improved immobilization capacity for living cells and a good biocompatibility for preserving the activity of the immobilized living cells. The immobilized K562 cells on the biocompatible film-modified electrode can be directly monitored with electrochemical impedance spectroscopy in the presence of [Fe(CN)6]3−/4− as redox probes. A highly sensitive electrochemical impedance method for the detection of leukemia K562 cancer cells was developed. Under the optimized conditions, the increased electron-transfer resistance with a good correlation to the logarithmic value of concentration of K562 cells ranging from 102 to 107 cells mL−1, and with the detection limit of 30 cells mL−1 (S/N=3). Additionally, the proposed method was used to describe the viability of cells and to evaluate the effectiveness of antitumor drug Nilotinib on K562 cells. The obtained results of Nilotinib cytotoxicity are well agreed with those from WST-1 assays. Furthermore, the work demonstrates that a highly biocompatible film of PLL/GO assembled is also expected to be an appropriate matrix for the electrochemical investigation of adhesion, proliferation, apoptosis of other relevant mammalian cells which is not limited to adherent cells, and the study of cell-based biosensors.

► A biocompatible interface of PLL/GO was developed for adhesion and detection of K562 cancer cells.
► The PLL/GO interface showed improved immobilization capacity and biocompatibility for cells.
► The obtained Nilotinib cytotoxicity results on K562 cells by proposed EIS method are satisfied.
► The proposed EIS method is free dyeing process, non-invasive, low-cost, labor- and time-saving.