AI Article Synopsis

  • Electrochemical microelectrodes are used to detect amperometric current spikes from individual vesicle exocytosis, and new transparent multielectrochemical electrode arrays on microchips are being developed to automate this measurement.
  • Efficient targeting of about 75% of individual cells to electrode sites is achieved through the use of microwell traps and specific surface treatments that encourage cell adhesion where needed while preventing it elsewhere.
  • The new device shows promise for high-throughput studies and could be useful in screening drugs or toxins that affect exocytosis, with tests on bovine adrenal chromaffin cells demonstrating consistent and reusable performance.

Article Abstract

Electrochemical microelectrodes are commonly used to detect spikes of amperometric current that correspond to exocytosis of oxidizable transmitter from individual vesicles, i.e., quantal exocytosis. We are developing transparent multielectrochemical electrode arrays on microchips in order to automate measurement of quantal exocytosis. Here, we report development of an improved device to target individual cells to each microelectrode in an array. Efficient targeting (~75%) is achieved using cell-sized microwell traps fabricated in SU-8 photoresist together with patterning of poly(l-lysine) in register with electrodes to promote cell adhesion. The surface between electrodes is made resistant to cell adhesion using poly(ethylene glycol) in order to facilitate movement of cells to electrode "docking sites". We demonstrate the activity of the electrodes using the test analyte ferricyanide and perform recordings of quantal exocytosis from bovine adrenal chromaffin cells on the device. Multiple cell recordings on a single device demonstrate the consistency of spike measurements, and multiple recordings from the same electrodes demonstrate that the device can be cleaned and reused without degradation of performance. The new device will enable high-throughput studies of quantal exocytosis and may also find application in rapidly screening drugs or toxins for effects on exocytosis.

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Source
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3069130PMC
http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/ac1033616DOI Listing

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