Development of planar patch clamp technology and its application in the analysis of cellular electrophysiology

A patch clamp chip, as a novel cell-based chip for electrophysiological recordings, has many prominent advantages such as high resolution, accuracy, high throughput and automation. It can be used to perform multivariate and real-time measurements of cell networks in situ. Therefore, this technology will dramatically promote the research on ionic channels, neuronal networks and the application of this technology in drug screening. This paper reviews the development of planar patch clamp technology and its applications in detail. The latest progress in the research of taste cells electrophysiology and taste transduction is also presented. Finally, this paper analyzes the methodology of neural chips. Based on the current research of our laboratory, the prospective applications of a patch clamp chip in the research of taste sensation and transduction mechanisms at molecular and cellular levels are discussed.