Cell visualization and assay multiplexing

The innovative, transparent plate bottom offers additional assay flexibility including cell visualization and assay multiplexing. Bright field imaging enables confirmation of cell spotting accuracy and correlation of cell culture health and connectivity with MEA results. Multiplex fluorescence- or luminescence-based assays with your MEA study to probe complementary end points.

Optogenetics to control the pacing or bursting of your cells

Genetically modification of cells to express excitatory light-sensitive ion channels, such as channel rhodopsin (ChR2), allows for controlled pacing of cardiomyocyte beating or neural network bursting.

(A) When expressed in neurons, ArchT suppresses neural activity upon incident green light. (B) Whereas, ChR2 can be used to activate neurons in vitro in response to blue light.

For cardiomyocytes, cardiac repolarization is intrinsically linked to the beat frequency, both of which are sensitive to pharmacological manipulation. Optogenetic stimulation can be used to control the beat frequency and remove it as a variable, resulting in increased reliability of the repolarization measurement.

(C, D) The beat rate of Pluricyte® Cardiomyocytes was increased in a step-wise manner (known as a “chirp” assay). The field potential duration (FPD) adapted with each sequential beat rate increase up to 3 Hz. (E) Typical clinical correction formulas, the Fridericia and Bazzett, did not accurately predict the FPD. However, pacing with the Lumos revealed the cell-specific beat rate correction relationship.