NeuroChip: A microfluidic sensor for electrophysiological recording of a nematode neural network

制药和农业化学工业对用于化合物筛选的具有成本效益的实验平台的需求日益增加。我们发明了一种装置，利用显微镜下的线虫C.优雅我们把它比作蠕虫'EEG'。它利用了使用无脊椎动物模型的成本效益，同时提供了关于药物作用的精细细节和分辨率。该装置是一个微流体室，“NeuroChip”。它捕获蠕虫，记录其头部神经回路的活动，并通过微阀系统应用化合物。这对于作物保护和动物健康行业具有特别的意义，因为神经系统是目前用作杀线虫剂和抗寄生虫剂的大多数化合物的经证实的靶点。此外，它还提供了为制药行业感兴趣的化合物提供神经毒理学和生物活性特征的潜力。

Pharmaceutical and agrochemical industries have an increasing need for cost effective experimental platforms for compound screening. We have invented a device to screen compounds for effects on the nervous system using the microscopic nematode worm C. elegans. We liken it to a worm 'EEG'. It exploits the cost effectiveness of using an invertebrate model whilst providing an exquisite level of detail and resolution on drug action. The device is a microfluidic chamber, 'NeuroChip'. It traps the worm, records the activity of a neural circuit in its head and applies compounds through a system of microvalves. This has particular relevance for the Crop Protection and Animal Health industries as the nervous system is a proven target for the majority of compounds that are currently deployed as nematicides and antiparasitics. Moreover, it provides the potential to deliver a neurotoxicological and biological activity profile for compounds that are of interest to the pharmaceutical industry.