Determination of Glutathione in a Single Human Hepatocarcinoma Cell Using a Microfluidic Device Coupled with Electrochemical Detection

A method for the determination of glutathione (GSH) in a single human hepatocarcinoma cell, using a microfluidic chip coupled with electrochemical detection, was developed. In this method, the cell injection, loading, and cytolysis, as well as the transportation and detection of intracellular GSH were integrated in a microfluidic chip with a double-T injector and an end-channel amperometric detector. A single cell was loaded in the double-T injector on the microfluidic chip, using liquid pressure. The docked cell was perforated in the electrophoretic buffer containing digitonin and was lysed under a direct current electric field. The GSH from the single cell was electrokinetically transported to the separation channel and was electrochemically detected at an Au/Hg electrode. The GSH in the single cell was quantitatively determined using a calibration curve.