Device and Process for Measuring Cell Properties
AssigneeUniversitat Osnabruck
InventorsRichard Wagner, Karsten Gall, Andreas Wirth
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Abstract
The invention relates to a measuring device for measuring at least one property of cells or vesicles, characterized in that is divided into two chambers by a hydrophobic partition having a horizontal opening, these chambers containing electrolyte solution and said opening being closed by a lipid double layer. The invention is characterized in that at least one cell or vesicle contacts the lipid double layer. The invention also relates to methods involving the use of the measuring device and to arrays, measuring chambers and microtitration plates all suited therefor.
Claims27
1-27. (canceled)
A device for measuring at least one property of cells or vesicles, comprising:
- (i) a hydrophobic partition wall forming two chambers in said device, and containing a horizontal opening into said two chambers;
- (ii) an electrolyte solution contained in said two chambers;
- (iii) a lipid bilayer that spans across said horizontal opening;
- and
- (iv) at least one cell or vesicle in contact with said lipid bilayer.
A method for establishing properties of cells or vesicles comprising:
- (i) providing a device for measuring at least one property of cells or vesicles, comprising:
- (a) a hydrophobic partition wall forming two chambers in said device, and having a horizontal opening into said two chambers;
- (b) an electrolyte solution contained in said two chambers;
- (c) a lipid bilayer that spans across said horizontal opening;
- and
- (d) at least one cell or vesicle in contact with said lipid bilayer;
- and
- (ii) measuring the optical or electrophysiological properties of said at least one cell or vesicle.
A device for measuring at least one property of cells or vesicles, comprising:
- two juxtaposed measuring chambers, each of which comprising:
- (i) a first cavity comprising lateral walls and an electrode;
- (ii) a second cavity positioned below said first cavity;
- and
- (iii) a hydrophobic partition wall separating said first cavity from said second cavity,
- wherein said hydrophobic partition wall has an opening with a diameter of from 0.1 μm to 100 μm.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.