Rostock, Germany, June 28th, 2011 / B3C newswire / - Cytocentrics, specializing in automated patch clamp and ion channel screening services, proudly announces the launch of the CytoPatch™ Instrument, a fully automated device for gigaseal patch clamp measurements in the whole cell configuration. Major innovations of the device include the true patch pipette resembling the manual patch clamp, a unique perfusion system enabling the measurements of very fast activating and desensitizing ligand-gated ion channels, and the system scalability which meets every throughput demand. All innovations together give excellent data quality at manual patch clamp level.
The CytoPatch™ Instrument is the first automated patch clamp platform in which the patch clamp process takes place inside a sophisticated three-dimensional quartz glass microchip with integrated microfluidic channels. This chip technology in combination with a unique perfusion system is best suited for measuring the inhibitory effect of slowly acting compounds (permanent application of 10 minutes possible) or the very fast activating and desensitizing ligand-gated ion channels (compound application time of <10 ms).
“The CytoPatch™ Instrument satisfies the demands for flexibility and throughput of academia, research labs, CROs and the pharmaceutical industry, while at the same time being cost-effective” says Dr. Thomas Knott, CEO of Cytocentrics. “It delivers a very high data quality at manual patch clamp level and enhances the productivity through automation and long walk-away times”. For the cost-conscious university, Cytocentrics offers the semi-automated CytoPatch™ Instrument Academic below the costs of a manual patch clamp rig.
Each instrument is equipped with its own patch clamp amplifier and advanced perfusion system along with its own cell, buffer, and compound supply. One CytoPatch™ Instrument can perform either as a stand-alone device or as a multiple-unit system in which up to 20 individual instruments can be connected on a network. This modular built-up minimizes delay times and even makes it possible to run different assays in parallel with different cell types.
The CytoPatch™ Instrument comes with well-established ion channel assays like hERG, NaV1.5, KV1.5 and KV1.3. Essential for reliable data generation are electrophysiologically validated cell lines or quality-assured Instant Cells, which can be obtained from Cytocentrics as well. Training courses and instrument installation by our assay development and service team will round up the product and offer a complete solution to customers.
Tests have shown that the CytoPatch™ Technology allows for new applications. With the fast compound application time of <10 ms, measurements of very fast activating and desensitizing ligand-gated ion channels like the Acetylcholine Receptor alpha 7 are feasible. Furthermore, due to its unique chip technology and the very low cell consumption, the CytoPatch™ Instrument is well suited to measure primary cells like dorsal root ganglions or even stem cells. The CytoPatch™ Instrument generates gigaseals without the need of seal-enhancing chemicals, e. g. fluoride in the intracellular solution, and therefore offers a higher flexibility in study design.
Performance demonstrations of the CytoPatch™ Instrument are regularly held in our laboratories in Rostock, Germany. Please contact us to agree on a date. The next official presentation of the CytoPatch™ Instrument will be at the Safety Pharmacology Society Meeting on September 19-22, 2011 in Innsbruck, Austria.
The CytoPatch™ Instrument is developed to supersede the manual patch clamp.
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Cytocentrics provides complete solutions in the field of automated patch clamp devices and helps to achieve customer’s goals efficiently. Our instruments are designed to simplify the difficult patch clamp process, resulting in significant time and cost reductions for our customers.
Because the characterization of ion channels is highly dependent on the electrophysiological properties of the specific channel of interest, we will consult you in assay design and offer a tailor-made solution.
Our current expertise is based upon:
- Sale of the CytoPatch™ Instrument, an automated patch clamp platform
- Ion channel screening service: Safety and Efficacy Screening
- Execution of GLP studies
- Ion channel assay development
- Development of electrophysiologically validated cell lines
- Sale of ready-to-use kits with quality-assured cells and buffers as turnkey solution
- Optimization of cell lines and buffers
Contact:
Cytocentrics AG
Dr. Gesa Rascher-Eggstein
Joachim-Jungius-Str. 9
18059 Rostock
Germany
Phone: +49 (0) 381 440388-40
Fax: +49 (0) 381 440388-47
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