ソフィオンバイオサイエンス List of Products and Services

We offer contract testing services to screen candidate compounds for pharmaceuticals in the research and development stage using Sophion's automated patch clamp systems, Qube and QPatchII, from the perspectives of drug discovery and safety pharmacology. By combining the reliability and throughput of QPatch and Qube, we can provide high-quality data quickly. Additionally, it is possible for you to provide your own cells for testing. If you are planning screening tests targeting ion channels, please feel free to consult with us. ■ Ion channels available for testing at any time: hERG ■ QPatch, with a proven track record across various ion channels, provides reliable and high-quality data. *For more details, please download the PDF or feel free to contact us.

• Other contract services

The Kv1.3 ion channel regulates the activation of T lymphocytes and controls membrane potential and calcium signaling in immune responses. Dysregulation is associated with autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis, psoriasis, and rheumatoid arthritis. The Kv1.3 channel also plays a role in the proliferation and survival of cancer cells. Therefore, the Kv1.3 channel is considered a promising target for the treatment of both autoimmune diseases and cancer. Efficient ion channel assays require consistent, robust, and functional membrane expression. Using a low-expressing Kv1.3 cell line, we classified cells based on Kv1.3 expression using the Tyto cell sorter (from Miltenyi Biotec), significantly improving the success rate of QPatch assays. *For more detailed information, please refer to the related links. Feel free to contact us for more details.*

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Our company is jointly developing a new protocol that enables efficient screening studies to identify modulators of Kv7.2/Kv7.3 channel activity using spider venom peptides. This will advance the understanding of gain-of-function mutations in channel-related epilepsy and potential therapies. *For more details, please refer to the related links. Feel free to contact us for more information.*

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One in three adults experiences chronic pain in their lives, and the effectiveness of treatments is limited, leading to a worsening opioid crisis. Understanding the balance between pain and chronic pain, as well as methods for pain treatment, is becoming increasingly important. Ion channels play a central role in both the physiological pain response and the pathophysiological changes underlying chronic pain. These specialized protein structures embedded in the cell membrane control the flow of ions such as sodium (Na+), potassium (K+), and calcium (Ca2+) across the cell membrane. The movement of these ions generates electrical signals that propagate along neurons and ultimately reach the brain, where they are recognized as pain. *For more detailed information, please refer to the related links. Feel free to contact us for further inquiries.*

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A PhD from the University of Copenhagen has made significant progress by using the Qube 384 automated patch clamp (APC) platform to record α5-containing GABAA receptors from acutely isolated primary neurons. This research highlights the importance of using natural primary hippocampal neurons to evaluate the effects of antipsychotic drugs on GABAergic activity, particularly from the perspective of drug discovery for cognitive function and schizophrenia. Previous studies relied on heterologous expression systems, such as HEK cells expressing α5-containing GABAA receptors. However, this research emphasizes the value of investigating these effects in primary hippocampal neurons, which more accurately reflect physiological conditions. *For more details, please refer to the related links. Feel free to contact us for further information.*

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The paper using QPatch Compact focuses on the study of the inhibition of the Nav1.8 ion channel by two new analgesic compounds, VX-150 and VX-548. The Nav1.8 channel is a major target in sensory neurons that detect pain and is extremely important for pain-related therapies. This research, conducted by a professor's laboratory at Harvard Medical School, utilized the QPatch Compact semi-automated patch clamp system to perform voltage clamp recordings and analyze the effects of these compounds on Nav1.8 sodium currents. *For more details, you can view the related links. Please feel free to contact us for more information.*

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Human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) are a highly versatile platform for modeling human neurons, enabling the generation of excitatory neurons for in vitro models. To understand the electrophysiological properties of neurons, such as excitability and synaptic transmission, recording ion channels in hiPSC-derived neurons is key. Researchers can investigate healthy neurophysiological functions by capturing the dynamics of ion channel currents, such as sodium, potassium, and calcium, as well as explore dysfunctions related to neurological disorders like epilepsy, autism, and neurodegenerative diseases. These models provide valuable tools for studying disease mechanisms and testing potential therapeutic interventions in patient-specific contexts. *For more details, please refer to the related links. Feel free to contact us for more information.*

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As summer comes to an end and the signs of autumn are felt, we bring you the quarterly overview from Sophion users. The third quarter has also been a very busy period for the Sophion platform in ion channel research. Many themes are covered, including Nav, Kv, Cav, ligand-gated ion channels, neurological diseases, cancer, infectious diseases, safety pharmacology, as well as toxins and antidotes, so you are sure to find something that catches your eye. From an excellent list of publications, we would like to highlight three particularly valuable and interesting developments. *For more details on the articles, please refer to the related links. Feel free to contact us for more information.*

• Technical and Reference Books

Human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs) have the potential to revolutionize heart disease modeling and drug screening. However, capturing physiologically relevant action potentials (APs) has been challenging, especially with traditional whole-cell (WC) patch-clamp methods. WC recordings often disrupt the cellular environment and can shorten AP duration due to the "washing out" of cytoplasmic components. By using perforated patch-clamp techniques, it is possible to maintain electrical access while preserving cell integrity. Unlike WC, the perforated method uses agents like nystatin to create small pores in the cell membrane, allowing ions to pass while retaining important cytoplasmic components. Applying this method has significantly improved AP recordings on the Sophion Qube 384 platform, demonstrating a success rate of up to 40%. *For more details, please refer to the related links. Feel free to contact us for further information.*

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The recipients of the Sophion research grant are utilizing the grant to conduct research on chemotherapy drugs targeting Nav1.7 currents, further deepening their studies on sodium channels and cancer by using Sophion's automated patch clamp system. They are an assistant professor at Istanbul Medipol University and are currently affiliated with our laboratory in Copenhagen, conducting research alongside senior researcher Kim Boddum. We had a discussion about the research and its objectives. *For more detailed information, please refer to the related links. Feel free to contact us for further inquiries.*

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The "Qube384" is an auto patch clamp system capable of unmanned operation for over 8 hours, thanks to its unique cell maintenance and automated cell preparation mechanisms. It features a dispenser equipped with 1,536 high-precision linear motors and grippers, ensuring accuracy and speed in experiments. Additionally, it measures ion channels with high throughput and precision, facilitated by 384 independent pairs of electrodes and amplifiers. 【Features】 ■ Fully integrated system ■ Fully automated cell preparation unit ■ Sophion amplifiers essential for high-precision experiments ■ High-spec internal PC for system operation and data collection ■ Temperature control *For more details, please download the PDF or feel free to contact us.

• Other measurement, recording and measuring instruments

"QPatch II" is a fully automated patch clamp system that has further evolved to meet the future demands of ion channel research while maintaining the advantages of "QPatch." It allows for easier and faster operation with reduced cell usage, obtaining proven high-quality data. The new intuitive software interface reduces human error and facilitates staff reallocation. By equipping the gripper arm with a barcode reader and adopting a plate stacking method on the workbench, we have achieved faster and more stable automation of experiments. [Features] - Rapid and robust experimental system - CiPA and cardiac safety evaluation - Optimized cell preparation - Independent control of all cells - Balancing ease of use and efficiency *For more details, please refer to the PDF materials or feel free to contact us.

• Other laboratory equipment and containers

The "QPatch Compact" is a new system that combines the flexibility of manual patch clamping with the stability of automated patch clamping. All necessary parts are assembled and inspected so that it can be used immediately after being taken out of the box. Complicated setups such as vibration isolation tables, Faraday cages, microscopes, manipulators, electrode pullers, and perfusion systems are not required. Stability is ensured by separating the hard drive for the database and experimental execution software. 【Features】 ■ Easy access to electrophysiological data ■ No training required ■ Up to 8 experiments can be conducted simultaneously ■ Supports fixed potential/current recording ■ Temperature and pressure control compatible *For more details, please refer to the PDF materials or feel free to contact us.

• Other laboratory equipment and containers