Microchip technology for automated and parallel patch-clamp recording.

The patch-clamp technique is the state-of-the-art technology for the study of a large class of membrane proteins called ion channels. Ion channels mediate electrical current flow, have crucial roles in cellular physiology, and are important drug targets. However, patch clamping is a laborious process requiring a skilled experimenter and is, therefore, not compatible with the high throughput needed in drug development. The solution for automated and parallel patch-clamp measurements that is provided by microchip technology is presented here.

[1]  F. Ashcroft.  Ion channels and disease , 1999, Oxford Textbook of Medicine.

[2]  B. Sakmann,et al.  Single-Channel Recording , 1983, Springer US.

[3]  B. Hille.  Ionic channels of excitable membranes , 2001 .

[4]  Martin A. M. Gijs,et al.  Realization of hollow SiO2 micronozzles for electrical measurements on living cells , 2002 .

[5]  Luke P. Lee,et al.  Mammalian electrophysiology on a microfluidic platform. , 2005, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America.

[6]  B. Sakmann,et al.  Single-channel currents recorded from membrane of denervated frog muscle fibres , 1976, Nature.

[7]  F. Sigworth,et al.  Patch clamp on a chip. , 2002, Biophysical journal.

[8]  N. Fertig,et al.  Activity of single ion channel proteins detected with a planar microstructure , 2002 .

[9]  Fred J. Sigworth,et al.  An air-molding technique for fabricating PDMS planar patch-clamp electrodes , 2004, Pflügers Archiv.

[10]  Robert H Blick,et al.  Whole cell patch clamp recording performed on a planar glass chip. , 2002, Biophysical journal.

[11]  F Bezanilla,et al.  Bilayer reconstitution of voltage-dependent ion channels using a microfabricated silicon chip. , 2001, Biophysical journal.

[12]  M. Reed,et al.  Micromolded PDMS planar electrode allows patch clamp electrical recordings from cells. , 2002, Biosensors & bioelectronics.

[13]  Xiaobo Wang,et al.  Automated electrophysiology: high throughput of art. , 2003, Assay and drug development technologies.

[14]  Horst Vogel,et al.  Chip based biosensor for functional analysis of single ion channels , 2000 .

[15]  B. Sakmann,et al.  Improved patch-clamp techniques for high-resolution current recording from cells and cell-free membrane patches , 1981, Pflügers Archiv.