A Quartz-microstructured Patch Clamp Chip allows True Gigaseals
The CytoPatch™ Chip Mimics the Properties of the Conventional Manual Patch Clamp Electrode
The heart of the CytoPatch™ Instrument is the micro-fabricated and patented CytoPatch™ Chip. The unique design of the CytoPatch™ Chip includes a glass pipette which mimics the properties of the conventional patch clamp electrode. The combination of two access channels, however, is unique compared to all automated patch clamp techniques and allows robust gigaseal recordings lasting over 30 minutes coupled with greater and superior perfusion control.
Unlike other automated voltage clamp platforms, the CytoPatch™ Instrument requires neither high Ca2+ buffer to support the sealing process nor fluoride in the intracellular solution to obtain gigaseals and stable whole cell recordings.
A sophisticated integrated microfluidic system allows the execution of defined and precisely triggered perfusion protocols.
With the special CytoPatch™ Chip design the conventional patch clamp process is mimicked, resulting in the same outstanding high data quality:
| Manual Patch Clamp Technique | CytoPatch™ Technique | |
| (A) Cell Capture | A common experience is that only clean patch pipettes result in true giga seal formation. To obtain this in conventional patch clamp a positive pressure is applied to the patch pipette. The intracellular solution flowing out keeps the pipette clean until the tip of the pipette is positioned close to the cell. | Suspended cells are injected into the chip close to The CytoPatch™ opening by a dispenser needle. A positive pressure is applied to the CytoPatch™ opening to generate an outflow of intracellular solution and to keep the patch pipette clean. A negative pressure is applied to the Cytocentering Channel to capture and position a single cell on top of the patch pipette. |
| (B) Sealing | A negative pressure in the patch pipette starts the sealing process. | Applying negative pressure in the CytoPatch™ opening starts the sealing process. In the Cytocentering opening the negative pressure is reduced. |
| (C) Whole cell | The whole cell configuration is established by application of negative pressure pulses to rupture the membrane patch. | Similar to the manual Patch Clamp Technique |
| (D) Recording | Ongoing perfusion during recording: With extracellular solution during control phase and washout, with compound during drug-application. | Similar to the manual Patch Clamp Technique |
CONTACT
Cytocentrics Bioscience GmbH
Joachim - Jungius - Str.9
Germany - 18059 Rostock
Phone: +49(0)381 440 388-0
Fax: +49 (0) 381 440 388-47
E-Mail: info@cytocentrics.com
MOVIE
CytoPatch™ movie: Learn more about the benefits!
