In silico cell electrophysiology for measuring transcellular calcium currents

A. Ul Haque, M. Rokkam, A. R. DeCarlo, S. T. Wereley, H. W. Wells, W. T. McLamb, S. J. Roux, P. P. Irazoqui, D. M. Porterfield

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

Trans-cellular calcium currents play a central role in the establishment of polarity in differentiating cells. Typically these currents are measured and studied experimentally using ion selective glass microelectrodes. We have recently developed an in silica cell electrophysiology lab-on-a-chip device with the specific science objectives of measuring these transcellular calcium currents in an advanced throughput format. The device consists of 16 pyramidal pores on a silicon substrate with four Ag/AgCl electrodes leading into each pore on the four poles. An SU-8 layer is used as the structural and insulating layer and a calcium ion selective membrane is used to impart ion selectivity to the Ag/AgCl electrodes. In this paper we demonstrate the utility of the cell electrophysiology biochip in measuring these transcellular calcium currents from single cells using the model biological system Ceratopteris richardii. We monitored these fern spores during germination and pharmacologically inhibited biophysical calcium transport. These results demonstrate the utility and versatility of the in silico cell electrophysiology biochip. While this version of the biochip was engineered to fulfill the specific science objectives of measuring trans-cellular calcium currents from Ceratopteris fern spores, the chip can easily be modified for a variety of biomedical and pharmacological applications. Future applications will be based on incorporating multiple analyte detection, amperometry, and biosensors into the device.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationSmart Medical and Biomedical Sensor Technology IV
DOIs
StatePublished - 2006
Externally publishedYes
EventSmart Medical and Biomedical Sensor Technology IV - Boston, MA, United States
Duration: Oct 3 2006Oct 4 2006

Publication series

NameProceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
Volume6380
ISSN (Print)0277-786X

Conference

ConferenceSmart Medical and Biomedical Sensor Technology IV
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityBoston, MA
Period10/3/0610/4/06

Keywords

  • Calcium
  • Electrophysiology
  • In silico
  • MEMS

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Computer Science Applications
  • Applied Mathematics
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering

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