Single shot detection of alterations across multiple ionic currents from assimilation of cell membrane dynamics

The dysfunction of ion channels is a causative factor in a variety of neurological diseases, thereby defining the implicated channels as key drug targets. The detection of functional changes in multiple specific ionic currents currently presents a challenge, particularly when the neurological causes are either a priori unknown, or are unexpected. Traditional patch clamp electrophysiology is a powerful tool in this regard but is low throughput. Here, we introduce a single-shot method for detecting alterations amongst a range of ion channel types from subtle changes in membrane voltage in response to a short chaotically driven current clamp protocol. We used data assimilation to estimate the parameters of individual ion channels and from these we reconstructed ionic currents which exhibit significantly lower error than the parameter estimates. Such reconstructed currents thereby become sensitive predictors of functional alterations in biological ion channels. The technique correctly predicted which ionic current was altered, and by approximately how much, following pharmacological blockade of BK, SK, A-type K⁺ and HCN channels in hippocampal CA1 neurons. We anticipate this assay technique could aid in the detection of functional changes in specific ionic currents during drug screening, as well as in research targeting ion channel dysfunction.