Automating Patch Clamping
Among the several “omics” of molecular biology is channelomics which refers to ion channels in all cellular membranes. Channelopathies are inherited or acquired diseases that involve the ion channels themselves or the proteins that regulate them—diseases such as cystic fibrosis, seizures, and myasthenia gravis, among others. To study ion channel function, researchers use a technique called “patch clamping” in which a glass micropipette clamps onto a patch of membrane with a few ion channels. The tip of the pipette acts as an electrode, while a ground electrode exists in the fluid around the cell, and together they measure an electrical current flowing through the membrane. Until now, the pipette had to be cleaned manually between each clamping, but engineers at Georgia Tech have developed a robot called “patch Bot” to do this task automatically. Faster drug screening should result from this automated technique. MORE WITH VIDEO
Image Credit: Horizons, Georgia Tech Research
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