EISonION - Electrical Impedance Spectroscopy for drug screening on Ligand-gated ION channels

Ligand-gated ion channels (LGICs) are involved in many pathophysiological processes and represent a relevant, albeit challenging, target for drug discovery. We are developing an innovative approach based on electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) to study LGICs based on the ligand-induced change in membrane resistance/impedance. We will exploit the potential of this method by developing a microfluidic drug testing system. This platform will be validated by testing the responses of reference drugs on cells expressing different ligand-gated ion channels by simultaneous two-electrode electrophysiology (TEVC) and EIS recording. This proof-of-concept study will demonstrate the reliability of EIS as a faster and more cost-effective method for drug screening compared to electrophysiological techniques. In the long term, following multiplexing of the system, EIS will facilitate drug screening of ligand-gated ion channels, which receive less attention due to the complexity of current assays.

Project partners and PI‘s

Prof. Dr. med Ralf Hausmann (PI); Biophysical Pharmacology, Institute of Clinical Pharmacology,  Faculty of Medicine of RWTH Aachen, Wendlingweg 2, 52074 Aachen; Email: rhausmann@ukaachen.de

Prof. Dr. Ing. Uwe Schnakenberg (PI); Department of Micro- and Nanosystems and Institute for Materials in Electrical Engineering, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology - RWTH Aachen, Sommer- feldstr. 24, 52074 Aachen; Email: schnakenberg@iwe1.rwth-aachen.de

Funded as part of the Excellence Strategy of the federal and state governments, OPSF671

Information regarding fundig

Exploratory Research Space - ERS

ERS promotes interdisciplinary research projects at RWTH Aachen University and sees itself as a platform for scientists who want to implement unconventional or high-risk research ideas jointly and on an interdisciplinary basis. The aim is to facilitate initial publications on the topic and the acquisition of external funding.