Automated Patch Clamp Services

Orthogonal Electrophysiology for Fluorescence-based Screening Programs

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ION’s Automated Patch Clamp (APC) capabilities extends dye-based ion channel screening into voltage-controlled confirmation within a single, coordinated workflow, eliminating the need for external transfers, assay re-development, or cross-vendor technology handoffs.

Fluorescence assays enable scalable hit identification. Automated electrophysiology adds mechanistic clarity by confirming activity under defined voltage protocols, resolving gating behavior, validating pharmacology, and de-risking safety liabilities. Partnering with ION enables direct progression from high-throughput fluorescence screening to voltage-clamp confirmation within a single coordinated program.

Fully integrated with ION’s ion channel and transporter screening platforms, APC validation enables seamless progression from screening to electrophysiology within a single vendor relationship:

  • Voltage-dependent activation and steady-state inactivation characterization
  • Quantitative EC₅₀ / IC₅₀ determination under voltage clamp
  • Confirmation of state-dependent or use-dependent inhibition
  • Mechanistic alignment between fluorescence readouts and electrophysiological current

Case Study: Automated Patch Clamp Validation of Stable HEK293-T NaV1.8 Cell Lines

Functional validation of ION’s stable, assay-ready HEK293-T + NaV1.8 cell line with ION’s Brilliant Sodium 2 and Brilliant Lithium assay kits provided rapid confirmation of sodium channel expression, generating robust, reproducible signals consistent with channel-specific activator and inhibitor pharmacology.

Orthogonal APC validation confirmed the fluorescence-based screening results, demonstrating expected NaV1.8 gating parameters and specific, clinically relevant pharmacology:

  • Voltage-dependent activation (V½ ≈ −28 mV)
  • Steady-state inactivation (V½ ≈ −65 mV)
  • Tetracaine IC₅₀ ≈ 8.0 µM
  • Suzetrigine IC₅₀ ≈ 43 nM

By delivering fluorescence screening and automated patch clamp validation within a single, integrated workflow, ION enables discovery teams to move from scalable hit identification to voltage-controlled mechanistic confirmation without supplier transitions, assay transfer delays, or loss of experimental continuity.

Single-Partner Workflow Advantage

ION provides fluorescence screening and automated patch clamp validation as a unified service architecture.

Clients benefit from:

  • No external assay transfer or revalidation cycles
  • No duplication of cell line qualification
  • No cross-platform protocol redevelopment
  • Direct alignment between fluorescence outputs and electrophysiology datasets
  • A single scientific team coordinating study design, execution, and interpretation

 

This structure reduces timelines, preserves assay continuity, and accelerates program-level decision-making.

FAQ

What does automated patch clamp confirm that fluorescence cannot?

APC directly measures ionic currents under voltage control, enabling gating characterization and mechanistic confirmation not accessible in dye-based assays.

APC is typically integrated during hit confirmation, lead optimization, or safety pharmacology evaluation.

Yes. Voltage-controlled protocols enable confirmation of state-dependent or use-dependent modulation observed in screening assays.

No. APC complements fluorescence screening by providing orthogonal mechanistic validation.

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