MultiChannel MEA Equipment in Stem Cell Breakthrough

The Multi-electrode array (MEA)-system is a fast developing and innovative technology that offers a simple solution for multisite recording set-ups in vivo and in vitro. The modular and flexible nature of the technology allows a variety of applications and possibilities for development. It is the ideal solution for monitoring extracellular activity in response to drug testing as well as basic research at a sub-cellular level.

Researchers at the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology (Itzhaki, Maizels et al, 2011) have been using Multichannel systems MEA equipment to help explore potential new personalised treatments for heart disease such as long QT syndrome. Long QT syndrome is a heart disease characterised by arrhythmia which can lead to sudden cardiac-death; in individuals suffering from the disease their heart will take longer to "re-charge" itself after each heart beat, which can lead to quickened heart rate, fainting and seizures.

Skin cells from a patient with long QT syndrome were coaxed to differentiate into cardiac cells in order to evaluate the electrophysiological properties of the disease at a cellular level. The study used single cell voltage-clamp studies and high resolution MEA recordings to evaluate the cell's response to existing and novel pharmacological agents. This study brilliantly demonstrates the collaboration between emerging stem cell techniques and new MEA recording systems. As such, it offers a promising development for modelling new drug therapies that can be patient specific at a cellular level.

Extending this family of MEA products from Multichannel Systems in an exciting new development, the MEA 2100 system allows recording from an impressive 120 channels, either with one or two 60 electrode MEA's or with one 120 electrode MEA. The system includes a high quality low noise amplifier, MEA- headstage with integrated stimulation and data acquisition software that allows control of gain and bandwidth. The flexible and adaptable nature of the set-up allows limitless possibilities for experimentation, whilst maintaining crucial control.

• Multi-configuration contact unit
• Multiple head stages
• Stimulation integrated in MEA-headstage
• Flexible and powerful MC_Rack software
• Real time signal detection and feedback