High-content microelectrode array (MEA) equipment

Tampere University Foundation sr is publishing direct award notice, for upgraded setup of 'High-content microelectrode array (MEA) equipment'.

https://www.tuni.fi/en/research/electrophysiological-measurements

BACKGROUND Brain disorders are one of the greatest health challenges; ~165 million Europeans are living with a brain disorder. It is estimated that 1 in 3 people will suffer from a neurological and/or psychiatric disorder during their lives. Similarly, cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the predominant cause of disability and premature death in the European Region, causing over 42.5% of all deaths annually. The global cost of these disorders together to European healthcare budgets is estimated to be over 1000 € billion per year, and this is expected to increase further as Europe’s population ages and becomes more susceptible to brain disorders. Many of these disorders are highly debilitating and have no permanent cure. Electrophysiological techniques allow comprehensive understanding of the biological basis of functioning of these cell types in health and in pathological conditions. Furthermore, these techniques allow the investigation of novel therapeutic targets/treatments in human cell-based models in vitro, in human tissue slides ex vivo and in animal models in vivo. Microelectrode array (MEA) systems are one novel tool in big picture of electrophysiology that will help the basic and preclinical research on brain and cardia diseases with a goal to efficiently translate preclinical research findings into efficient treatment, prevention and diagnosis. Electrophysiological experiments require expensive equipment and deep methodological knowhow. The core facility for electrophysiological measurements (https://www.tuni.fi/en/research/electrophysiological-measurements) in Faculty of Medicine and Health technology Tampere University, also part FinE platform in Biocenter Finland (https://biocenter.fi/technology-platform-services/finnish-electrophysiology/), enables research groups and non-academic users even with no prior or low experience in electrophysiological recordings, to have access to state-of-art (SoA) electrophysiological facilities and provides user training and expertise in planning and executing experiments. NEED Tampere University Electrophysiology core facility’s existing Multiwell MEA system Axion Maestro 768L has entered discontinued product state and is no longer supported for updates and after long life cycle is experiencing frequent malfunctions. Thus, the plan to update the system is essential for continuation of electrophysiological measurements of neuronal and cardiac cells in several ongoing in-house projects and as services for other users. The to be purchased system does not only replace the previous system but provides novel tools to gain state-of-the-art recordings and analysis methods. MEA technology is one of the core methods to study electrophysiological characteristics of patient cell lines derived neuronal and cardiac cells and their function both in normal and diseased conditions. Minimum requirement is to fill at least technical specifications of the previous system: • At least 12,5 kHz data sampling frequency to identify fast occurring electrophysiological events in neuronal and cardiac cells • 768 measurement electrodes divided to MEA wells in range well plates sizes mimicking standard well culture plates (e.g. 6, 12, 24, 48, 96 well formats). 48 well plate format containing 16 electrodes in each well for high content recordings to enable high quality network activity detection. This is minimum requirement for new system. • Enabling medium to high throughput analysis • Option for transparent sample area in wells for imaging cell growth, morphology for identification • Ability to induce and measure cardiac local extracellular action potentials (LEAP) on any and every electrode in a plate • Integrated impedance measurements for cell viability and neuro/cardio-toxicity analysis • Temperature and gas environment control for measurement chamber to enable stable long-term measurements. • Advanced analysis software packages specifically designed for neuronal and cardiac cell analysis CONCLUSION FOR DIRECT AWARD There are currently three options in the market for Multiwell MEA systems, listed below. 1) Alphamed MED64-Presto • 336 measuring electrodes (+48 reference electrodes) • Has 48 wells per plate format, but each well has only 8 electrodes • Transparent plates • Temperature and CO2-feed control possible with pre-mixed gases • Analysis tools available with license • 20 kHz data sampling frequency 2) Axion Biosystems Maestro Pro • 768 measuring electrodes • 48 well plate format (with 16 electrodes) available for different applications • Transparent wells available for cell culture health tracking • 12,5 kHz data sampling frequency • Cell viability and neuro/cardiac toxicity assays via impedance measurement • Analysis module licenses for neuronal and cardiac cells other merits: • MEA creator kit for engineers for designing custom made well plates 3) Multi channel Systems Multiwell-MEA • 288 measuring electrodes • No 48 well format, in 24 well plate format on 12 electrodes/well • Temperature adjustment, but no CO2-feed available • 50 kHz data sampling frequency There are also CMOS based MEA devices in the market, meant for high resolution measurements in subcellular level, containing thousands of electrodes/well. Those do not fit the need for to be purchased device. Axion Maestro Pro is the only instrument in the market which meets all technical requirements to fulfil the needs of research groups. The new device is from the same manufacturer as the old one, so the main operations are then familiar for users, thus no need for extensive new training. The in-house build analysis algorithms, other processing software and analysis pipelines developed and utilized with previous device are compatible with the new device. This enables feasible use and merge of experimental data gained with both systems together. If we will purchase another manufacturer's hardware, the internal software development costs alone will delay studies significantly.