A light-addressable potentiometric sensor-based extracellular calcium dynamic monitoring and imaging platform for cellular calcium channel drug evaluation.

Disruption and dysregulation of cellular calcium channel function can lead to diseases such as ischemic stroke, heart failure, and arrhythmias. Corresponding calcium channel drugs typically require preliminary efficacy evaluations using in vitro models such as cells and simulated tissues before clinical testing. However, traditional detection and evaluation methods often encounter challenges in long-term continuous monitoring and lack calcium specificity.

A Silicon-Based Field-Effect Biosensor for Drug-Induced Cardiac Extracellular Calcium Ion Change Detection.

Calcium ions participate in the regulation of almost all biological functions of the body, especially in cardiac excitation-contraction coupling, acting as vital signaling through ion channels. Various cardiovascular drugs exert their effects via affecting the ion channels on the cell membrane. The current strategies for calcium ion monitoring are mainly based on fluorescent probes, which are commonly used for intracellular calcium ion detection (calcium imaging) and cannot achieve long-term monitoring.

Low-cost fabrication of poly(methyl methacrylate) microchips using disposable gelatin gel templates.

A simple method based on disposable gelatin gel templates has been developed for the low-cost fabrication of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) microfluidic chips. Gelatin was dissolved in glycerol aqueous solution under heat to prepare a thermally reversible impression material. The molten gel was then sandwiched between a glass plate and a SU-8 template bearing negative relief of microstructure.

Hot embossing of electrophoresis microchannels in PMMA substrates using electric heating wires.

A simple method based on electric heating wires has been developed for the rapid fabrication of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) electrophoresis microchips in ordinary laboratories without the need for microfabrication facilities. A piece of stretched electric heating wire placed across the length of a PMMA plate along its midline was sandwiched between two microscope slides under pressure. Subsequently, alternating current was allowed to pass through the wire to generate heat to emboss a separation microchannel on the PMMA separation channel plate at room temperature.