Investigation of an SPR biosensor for determining the influence of connexin 43 expression on the cytotoxicity of cisplatin

The real-time and label free detection abilities of surface plasmon resonance (SPR) biosensors provide a way of evaluating the influence of some genes’ expression on anti-tumor drug cytotoxicity. However, studies in this field are lacking. Connexin 43 is a tumor suppressor gene and the mechanism of its effect in cisplatin cytotoxicity is still unclear. A phase SPR biosensor was used to determine the influence of connexin 43 expression on cisplatin cytotoxicity in three cancer cell lines. The results showed that the SPR signal curves have two stages. In the first hour, the SPR signal shows dramatic changes which are related to connexin 43 expression. In the subsequent stage, the SPR signal slowly declines and is related to apoptosis. Comparison of SPR measurements from several conventional biological assays showed that connexin 43 expression can affect cellular response to cisplatin in the period of oxidative stress, and results in the cells being more sensitive to cisplatin. The conclusion is further confirmed by long-term SPR measurement results and cellular morphological changes.