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Updated: May 9, 2026
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A Microfluidic Chip for the Versatile Chemical Analysis of Single Cells
Published on: October 15, 2013
Microfluidics platform for single-shot dose-response analysis of chloride channel-modulating compounds
Byung-Ju Jin1, Eun-A Ko, Wan Namkung
1Departments of Medicine and Physiology, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA. Alan.Verkman@ucsf.edu.
Lab on a Chip
|August 3, 2013
Summary
A new microfluidics platform enables rapid, single-shot determination of chloride channel modulator activity. This method accelerates drug discovery for cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) and TMEM16A channels.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Pharmacology
- Biophysics
Background:
- Cell-based assays using fluorescent proteins are established for studying chloride channel modulators.
- High-throughput screening has identified modulators for CFTR and TMEM16A channels.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a microfluidics platform for rapid, single-shot determination of concentration-activity relationships for chloride channel modulators.
- To quantify modulator effects across a wide concentration range in a single measurement.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a microfluidics platform to expose adherent cells to a pseudo-logarithmic compound gradient.
- Generated compound gradients via iterative, two-component channel mixing over 5-10 minutes.
- Imaged cell fluorescence after iodide solution perfusion to measure iodide influx rate.
Main Results:
- Successfully determined concentration-activity relationships for chloride channel modulators in a single measurement.
- Achieved IC50 values for CFTR and TMEM16A modulators that agreed with conventional plate reader assays.
- Demonstrated the platform's capability for rapid characterization of channel activators and inhibitors.
Conclusions:
- The developed microfluidics platform offers a rapid and efficient method for evaluating chloride channel modulators.
- This approach has the potential to significantly accelerate the discovery and characterization of drugs targeting chloride channels.
- The single-shot, wide-concentration range measurement capability enhances throughput in drug development.
