Live cell adhesion assay with attenuated total reflection infrared spectroscopy.

Living confluent fish fibroblast cells RTG-P1 from rainbow trout adherent on diamond were examined by attenuated total reflection (ATR) infrared (IR) spectroscopy. In particular, IR spectra were recorded dynamically during the adsorption of the cells onto the diamond and during their biochemically induced structural responses to the subsequent addition of trypsin and cytochalasin D. It is shown that changes in the IR spectra result from changes in cell morphology and surface coverage. The results demonstrate the potential and the applicability of ATR IR spectroscopy for live cell adhesion assays.