ABSTRACT
The silicon microphysiometer is a biosensor that measures the metabolic rates of cells by detecting the rate at which cells acidify their environment by the excretion of acidic metabolites such as carbon dioxide and lactic acid [1]. Although the instrument can be used for metabolic studies in cell biology, its applicability is much broader. For example, it can be used for in-vitro toxicology, for determination of chemotherapeutic efficacy, and to detect ligand-receptor interactions. The strategy behind the device is perhaps best conveyed by the following analogy.
