Poregenic - Patch On Chip System For Adherent Cellular Networks

Automated patch-clamp setups are applied to investigate dose response relationships and target kinetics in the development of new pharmaceutical agents. Currently, automated systems are limited to investigations of suspended single cells. We pursue the development of assays for detecting the membrane properties in adherent networks because the majority of cells in humans grow adherently. In a first step, we developed PoreGenic®, a novel patch-clamp system for cells growing on a sensor chip with micro-structured needle electrodes arranged in an 8×8 multi-electrode array with a pitch of 100 μm. PoreGenic® allows for the electrical cell manipulation as well as for extra- and intracellular potential measurements. Four types of needle electrodes of different shapes and materials were tested with heights of less than 10 μm. For intracellular detection, electroporation pulses were applied to form membrane pores for the introduction of the electrodes into the cytoplasm. Fluorescence and scanning-electron microscopy in combination with focused ion beam preparation were used to characterize the success of electroporation. In a number of experiments, we could access the cytoplasm and detect intracellular potentials. Our current system features 16 hollow needle structures with fluidic connections for patch-clamp experiments.