title: Compact microelectrode array system: tool for in situ monitoring of drug effects on neurotransmitter release from neural cells.
abstract: This paper presents a compact microelectrode array (MEA) system, to study potassium ion-induced dopamine release from PC12 neural cells, without relying on a micromanipulator and a microscope. The MEA chip was integrated with a custom-made "test jig", which provides a robust electrical interfacing tool between the microchip and the macroenvironment, together with a potentiostat and a microfluidic syringe pump. This integrated system significantly simplifies the operation procedures, enhances sensing performance, and reduces fabrication costs. The achieved detection limit for dopamine is 3.8 x 10-2 muM (signal/noise, S/N = 3) and the dopamine linear calibration range is up to 7.39 +/- 0.06 muM (mean +/- SE). The effects of the extracelluar matrix collagen coating of the microelectrodes on dopamine sensing behaviors, as well as the influences of K+ and l-3,4-digydroxyphenylalanine concentrations and incubation times on dopamine release, were extensively studied. The results show that our system is well suited for biologists to study chemical release from living cells as well as drug effects on secreting cells. The current system also shows a potential for further improvements toward a multichip array system for drug screening applications.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Microelectronics, 11 Science Park Road, Singapore. chenyu@ime.a-star.edu.sg
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Chunxian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Layhar
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Serchoong
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cheong
authors.forename: Qingxin
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Kumcheong
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Julien
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Reboud
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015374:Biosensing Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D003094:Collagen / Q000737:chemistry; D004295:Dihydroxyphenylalanine / Q000494:pharmacology; D004298:Dopamine / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D015259:Dopamine Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004563:Electrochemistry; D007980:Levodopa; D046228:Microarray Analysis / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D008839:Microelectrodes; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D016716:PC12 Cells; D011188:Potassium / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D015259:Dopamine Agents; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D007980:Levodopa; D004295:Dihydroxyphenylalanine; D003094:Collagen; D011188:Potassium; D004298:Dopamine