Researchers have developed a new type of pipette that can deliver ions to individual neurons without affecting the sensitive extracellular milieu. Controlling the concentration of different ions can provide important insights into how individual brain cells are affected and how cells work together.
The micropipette measures only 2 µm in diameter. For comparison, human hair measures 50 and a neuron about 10 µm in diameter. Using this so-called iontronic micropipette, the researchers can add only ions, such as potassium and sodium, to the extracellular milieu to see how this affects the neurons. Glial cells, specifically astrocyte, activity is also measured.
The pipette is manufactured by heating up a glass tube and pulling it to the breaking point. This produces a very thin and tapered tip. This type of micropipette is usually used in neuroscience to create and measure electrical activity in the brain. The researchers’ iontronic micropipette has a tip filled with a specially adapted ion-exchange membrane, which makes it possible to create activity by chemical means. (Image credit: Thor Balkhed)
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