Automated targeting of cells to electrochemical electrodes using a surface chemistry approach for the measurement of quantal exocytosis.

Here we describe a method to fabricate a multi-channel high-throughput microchip device for measurement of quantal transmitter release from individual cells. Instead of bringing carbon-fiber electrodes to cells, the device uses a surface chemistry approach to bring cells to an array of electrochemical microelectrodes. The microelectrodes are small and "cytophilic" in order to promote adhesion of a single cell whereas all other areas of the chip are covered with a thin "cytophobic" film to block cell attachement and facilitate movement of cells to electrodes. This cytophobic film also insulates unused areas of the conductive film, thus the alignment of cell docking sites to working electrodes is automatic. Amperometric spikes resulting from single-granule fusion events were recorded on the device and had amplitudes and kinetics similar to those measured using carbon-fiber microelectrodes. Use of this device will increase the pace of basic neuroscience research and may also find applications in drug discovery or validation.