Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 10, 2026
09:18
Measurement of Extracellular Ion Fluxes Using the Ion-selective Self-referencing Microelectrode Technique
Published on: May 3, 2015
14.5K
Enhanced Temporal Resolution with Ion Channel-Functionalized Sensors Using a Conductance-Based Measurement Protocol
Mark T Agasid1, Troy J Comi1, S Scott Saavedra1
1Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, ‡BIO5 Institute, and §Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Arizona , Tucson, Arizona 85721, United States.
Analytical Chemistry
|December 17, 2016
Summary
We developed a fast biosensing protocol to monitor ion channel (IC) activity in real-time. This method enables precise temporal measurements of dynamic processes, improving IC-based sensor capabilities for detecting analytes.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Electrochemistry
- Biosensing Technology
Background:
- Ion channels (ICs) are promising transducers for label-free biosensing.
- Current research focuses on IC selectivity, sensitivity, and membrane environments.
- Limited work addresses temporal measurement criteria for dynamic processes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a rapid measurement protocol for time-resolved monitoring of IC-modulated membrane conductance.
- To enable real-time analysis of dynamic processes using ICs.
- To enhance the analytical performance of IC-based biosensors.
Main Methods:
- Reduced membrane area and small voltage steps (10 mV) were employed.
- Short duration voltage pulses (10 ms) minimized capacitive charging.
- A conductance protocol with sequential voltage steps allowed 30 ms sampling.
Main Results:
- Dynamic IC measurements were performed on gramicidin A-functionalized black lipid membranes (BLMs).
- BLM conductance decreased by 76% within 30 ms upon exposure to 1 M Ca2+.
- Demonstrated feasibility of monitoring rapid, dynamic chemical processes.
Conclusions:
- The developed protocol enables rapid, time-resolved monitoring of IC-modulated membrane conductance (≤30 ms).
- This approach is broadly applicable to IC-based sensors requiring analyte-specific gating measurements.
- Advances analytical performance for dynamic biosensing applications.
