JPH03246457A - cell measurement cell - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Field of Application] The present invention relates to a measurement cell used for measuring cell activity (membrane potential).

[Prior Art] Recording of membrane potential inside and outside a single cell is performed for research purposes such as neurophysiology.

Conventionally, glass microelectrodes, tungsten electrodes, etc. have been used for this measurement, but in either case, the electrode is inserted into or in contact with the cell, an electrical signal for stimulation is applied, and the inside and outside of the cell are immediately exposed. It is necessary to capture changes in electrical signals.

[Invention or problem to be solved] When obtaining an electrical signal from a single cell using an inserted electrode, the electrode is inserted into the cell while observing it with a microscope (in the case of cultured cells or floating cells) or monitoring the waveform of the electrical signal. An operation to insert the needle is required.

Therefore, advanced technology is required, resulting in a large loss of time.

In addition, neurite (neurite) is added to cultured cells.
), etc., is an even more difficult technique because they are much smaller than cells.

1. Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and its purpose is to provide a cell that can easily measure cell activities such as membrane potential. be.

The present invention is a cell counting cell characterized in that a part of the substrate is coated with a cell-binding material and a plurality of electrode patterns are arranged around the coated part.

The substrate used in the cell of the present invention is preferably an IC substrate having a minute electrode pattern.

As the cell-binding material, monoclonal antibodies directed against biological substances on the surface of cell membranes and cell-adhesive substances can be used. For example, a commercially available anti-cellular antibody is used as the monoclonal antibody, and collagen or the like is used as the cell adhesive substance.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the cell has a cylindrical recess with a diameter corresponding to the cell diameter near the center of the substrate, and the bottom surface of the recess is coated with the monoclonal antibody or cell adhesive substance. , an electrode end is provided on the side surface of the recess.

Cell counting cells of this embodiment are shown in Figures 1a and lb. In this cell, ▪ is an electrically insulating IC substrate, and 2 is a monoclonal antibody coating site on the bottom surface of a cylindrical recess located at the center of the substrate. Electrode 3 made of an electrical conductor
has its end 5 on the side of the recess, and the other end is connected to the external connecting pin 4.

In this cell, cells 6 are fixed to the coating site 2 by a cell-binding material as shown in FIG.

By making the area and shape of this coating region correspond to the size of a single cell (for example, several μm to several hundred μm in diameter), it is possible to limit and fix one cell of this size.

Furthermore, by making the area around the coating site concave, the probability of binding to other cells can be further reduced.

Furthermore, by patterning the electrodes around the coating site of the IC substrate, it is possible to place a large number of electrodes without adjusting the electrodes to the cells.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the cell further has a plurality of grooves extending radially from the central recess to the cell periphery, and has electrode ends on the side surfaces of the grooves.

Cells of this embodiment are shown in Figures 3a, 3b and 30.

In the cell shown in FIG. 3, 10 is an electrode, 10' is an outer end of the electrode, 11 is an insulating IC substrate, 12 is a small groove (groove), and 13
14 is a cell, 14 is an external connecting pin, and 15 is a coating site.

For such cells, single cells are reliably fixed and
Furthermore, neurite outgrowth of cultured neurons can be induced along the minor groove. It is already known that it is possible to elongate cells along such small grooves on an IC substrate.

By forming an electrode pattern on the side surface of the small groove of this cell measurement cell, electrical stimulation can be applied to the second knee light and its recording can be performed satisfactorily.

[Effects of the Invention] According to the cell measurement cell of the present invention, a single cell can be reliably fixed and electrical stimulation and recording can be performed easily and accurately.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Figures 1a and lb are a plan view and a cross-sectional view of the cell measurement cell of the present invention, Figure 2 is a partially enlarged view of the cell in Figure 1, and Figures 3a, 3b, and 3c are small grooves. FIG. 2 is a plan view and a cross-sectional view of a cell of the present invention having . 1.11... IC board 2.15... Monoclonal antibody or cell adhesive substance coating area 3.5... Electrode 4.14... External connecting pin 6.13... Cell 10... Electrode 10' ... Electrode outer end 12 ... Small groove

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A cell measurement cell characterized in that a part of the substrate is coated with a cell-binding material and a plurality of electrode patterns are arranged around the coated part.