High-throughput microelectrode array (MEA) and impedance equipment

Microelectrode array (MEA) systems are novel tools in electrophysiology that will help the basic and preclinical research on brain and cardiac diseases with a goal to efficiently translate preclinical research findings into efficient treatment, prevention and diagnosis. Electrophysiological techniques allow comprehensive understanding of the biological basis of functioning of these cell types in health and in pathological conditions. MEA technology is one of the core methods to study e.g. electrophysiological characteristics of neuronal and cardiac cells and their function both in normal and diseased conditions. High-throughput MEA instruments allow also drug discovery for neurological and cardiovascular diseases and investigation of novel therapeutic targets/treatments in human cell-based models in vitro. Instrument with integrated impedance technology allows also cell viability and neuro/cardio-toxicity analysis, which are highly relevant for early safety assessment of new drug leads. Minimum technical specifications required from the high-throughput microelectrode array (MEA) and impedance equipment to be purchased are: • Enables medium to high throughput analysis i.e. at least 96-well format capacity. This throughput is needed for screening compound libraries where compound stock volumes are limited. • Enables measurements with several plate formats mimicking standard well culture plates (at least 12, 24, 48, 96 well formats). This flexibility is required to enable experiments with various cell models some of which cannot be established in high-throughput format • >700 measurement electrodes per MEA plate to allow high quality data output with high number of electrodes per well • At least 12.5 kHz data sampling frequency to identify fast occurring electrophysiological events in neuronal and cardiac cells • Ability to induce and measure cardiac local extracellular action potentials (LEAP) on any and every electrode in a plate • Capable of monitoring live cell function parameters in real time including cell proliferation, cytotoxicity, cell adhesion, receptor based functional assays, immune cell killing, ADCC, viral neutralizing antibody detection, cell migration, wound healing, and barrier function through impedance with at least 96-well plate capacity • Optogenetic stimulator for customizable light stimulation • Temperature and gas environment control for measurement chamber to enable stable long-term measurements • Option for transparent sample area in wells for imaging cell growth, morphology for identification • Possibility to use customised MEA plates, e.g. organ-on-a-chip platforms for co-cultures and tissue models • Advanced, license-free analysis software packages specifically designed for neuronal and cardiac cell analysis, cell viability and impedance measurements

Axion Biosystems Maestro Pro is the only instrument in the market which meets all the most critical technical requirements fulfilling the needs of the research groups at the Faculty of Pharmacy. These are: flexible selection of different plate formats up to 96-well plates and also customised plates, suitability for electrophysical as well as impedance based measurements, possibility for both voltage-drive and optogenetic simulation and data collection from significant number of electrodes per plate (768). Axion Biosystems is the sole manufacturer and distributor of the Maestro Pro in Europe and North America.