Systems and methods of voltage-gated ion channel assays

摘要

Systems and methods are provided for optically measuring ion concentrations in biological samples. The systems and methods employ polymer-based optical ion sensors that include ion-selective ionophores and a pH sensitive chromionophore. Electrodes are providing for electrically stimulating the biological samples.

主权项

1. A method of conducting a biological assay comprising:
introducing a polymer-based optical ion sensor into a cell in a biological sample holder, wherein the optical ion sensor includes at least one ionophore for selectively binding a predetermined ion, thereby altering a pH of the optical ion sensor, and one pH-sensitive chromionophore for optically indicating the concentration of the predetermined ion based on the pH of the optical ion sensor and the resulting fluorescence of the chromionophore; generating an electric field across the cell; measuring an output of a light sensor monitoring the fluorescence of the optical ion sensor in response to the generation of the electric field.