Voltammetric behavior of HeLa cells on a carbon nanotube/ionic liquid modified electrode for cytotoxicity evaluation of chlorophenols

Abstract

In the present study, the electrochemical behavior of human cervical carcinoma (HeLa) cells on a purified-multiwall carbon nanotube (p-MWCNT) and ionic liquid (IL) modified glass carbon electrode was studied. Two voltammetric signals of HeLa cells were detected, which were attributed to intracellular xanthine, guanine, hypoxanthine and adenine. The existence of these purines was further verified by the high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) assay. Based on the variation of the intensity of the two voltammetric signals, the cytotoxicity of 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP), 2,4,6-trichlorophenol (2,4,6-TCP) and pentachlorophenol (PCP) was evaluated, which was also compared with the traditional methyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay. This work is expected to provide a label-free method providing more exact and perfect information to study the purine metabolism, as well as to evaluate the influence of chemicals from different perspectives.