Automated recording of ion-channel currents in living cells
Vol. 16 No. 3 (2005), Re-publication
Vol. 16 No. 3 (2005)

Automated recording of ion-channel currents in living cells

Re-publication
https://doi.org/10.7146/kvant.169154
Published 2005-09-01
Rafael Taboryski
Sophion Bioscience A/S
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2491-1098
Simon Pedersen
Sophion Bioscience A/S
Rafael Taboryski og Simon Pedersen
PDF (Dansk)

Keywords

Automatisk Patch Clamp
Ionkanaler
BioMEMS

How to Cite

Taboryski, R., & Pedersen, S. (2005). Automated recording of ion-channel currents in living cells. KVANT, 16(3). https://doi.org/10.7146/kvant.169154
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Abstract

The article describes the development of automated patch-clamp technology for recording of ion channel currents in living cells, based on the QPatch™ system and QPlate™ chip developed by Sophion Bioscience A/S. Ion channels are presented as essential membrane proteins that regulate ion transport and thereby control electrical signaling in particularly the nervous system, and the heart.

The article explains the underlying electrophysiological principles, including the Nernst equation and the importance of ion concentration gradients, as well as how the patch-clamp technique enables the measurement of currents across cell membranes at the single-cell level.

The main focus is on the transition from traditional manual glass pipette-based patch clamping to an industrialized, parallelized chip-based approach. The article discusses the micro- and nanotechnological challenges involved in developing a silicon-based patch-clamp chip, including automated cell positioning, fluid filling of microscopic channels, and the use of capillary stops to control liquid interfaces.

Overall, the article demonstrates how physics, microfluidics, surface tension, electrophysiology, and industrial product development are integrated into automated ion channel screening for pharmaceutical research.

 

https://doi.org/10.7146/kvant.169154
PDF (Dansk)

References

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