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An air-molding technique for fabricating PDMS planar patch-clamp electrodes

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Abstract

We present a new technique for fabricating planar patch electrodes in the laboratory. Planar electrodes are micromolded using a micron-sized stream of air to define an aperture in the silicone elastomer, polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). We have previously demonstrated that planar PDMS electrodes make excellent patch electrodes after surface modification. We demonstrate single-channel measurements of the rSlo channel in Xenopus oocytes and whole-cell measurements in CHO and RBL mammalian cell lines, using planar PDMS electrodes.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Yuri Osipchuk (Axon Instruments) for helpful discussions and sharing his idea of using a silver tube to act both as electrical connector and suction port. We also thank Azucena Munden for her help in electrode fabrication, Teresa Giraldez (Yale University) for advice and help with cell culture, and Mark Reed (Yale University) for helpful discussions. This work was supported by NIH grant EB-002020 and a grant from Axon Instruments.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA

    Kathryn G. Klemic & Fred J. Sigworth

  2. Departments of Electrical Engineering and Applied Physics, Yale University, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA

    James F. Klemic

Authors
  1. Kathryn G. Klemic
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  2. James F. Klemic
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  3. Fred J. Sigworth
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Fred J. Sigworth.

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Klemic, K.G., Klemic, J.F. & Sigworth, F.J. An air-molding technique for fabricating PDMS planar patch-clamp electrodes. Pflugers Arch - Eur J Physiol 449, 564–572 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00424-004-1360-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00424-004-1360-8

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