title: Microstructured glass chip for ion-channel electrophysiology.
abstract: We present a technique by which it is possible to produce a planar sensor for ion channel electrophysiology from glass substrates. Apertures with diameters in the low micrometer to submicrometer range are achieved by irradiation of a glass chip with a single heavy ion and subsequent wet track etching. The function of the device is demonstrated by recordings of single channel currents mediated by the model ion channel gramicidin A in lipid bilayers spanning the micromachined aperture.
authors.affiliation: Center for NanoScience and Sektion Physik, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Geschwister-Scholl-Platz 1, 80539 München, Germany.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fertig
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Blick
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Trautmann
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Behrends
mesh_terms: D004573:Electrolytes; D004594:Electrophysiology / Q000379:methods*; D005898:Glass; D006096:Gramicidin / Q000737:chemistry*; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D007477:Ions; D008051:Lipid Bilayers / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D004573:Electrolytes; D007473:Ion Channels; D007477:Ions; D008051:Lipid Bilayers; D006096:Gramicidin