MultiChannelSystems GmbH

Multi Channel Systems MCS GmbH was founded in 1996 and is based in the Science and Technology Park in Reutlingen in Southwest Germany. The product line for measuring extracellular activity from excitable cells, in vitro and in vivo, and the Roboocyte, a fully automated two electrode voltage clamp (TEVC) system for Xenopus laevis oocytes, demonstrate the core competences of Multi Channel Systems — to develop innovative instruments and software for various electrophysiological applications. MCS develops and manufactures high-technology instruments for all fields of electrophysiology

Role and expertise of MCSin the proposal

MCS exhibits core competences especially in multichannel and voltage clamp amplifier technology, stimulus generators, multichannel data acquisition hardware and software, and analysis programs. Not only does MCS develop new instruments, but it also improves, continuously, already existing systems in very close contact with researchers and their applications. MCS is also engaged in numerous interdisciplinary projects with partners from the academic and industrial field. Within the present proposal MCS will integrate their standard MEA with the microfuidic system and with the fabricated nanopatterns.

A selection of the most relevant publications from MCS

Hofmann F, Bading H (2006) Long term recordings with microelectrode arrays: studies of transcription-dependent neuronal plasticity and axonal regeneration. J Physiol Paris 99:125-132.

Arnold FJ, Hofmann F, Bengtson CP, Wittmann M, Vanhoutte P, Bading H (2005) Microelectrode array recordings of cultured hippocampal networks reveal a simple model for transcription and protein synthesis-dependent plasticity. J Physiol 564:3-19.

Hofmann F, Guenther E, Hammerle H, Leibrock C, Berezin V, Bock E, Volkmer H (2004) Functional re-establishment of the perforant pathway in organotypic co-cultures on microelectrode arrays. Brain Res 1017:184-196.

Meyer T, Boven KH, Gunther E, Fejtl M (2004) Micro-electrode arrays in cardiac safety pharmacology: a novel tool to study QT interval prolongation. Drug Saf 27:763-772.

Stett A, Egert U, Guenther E, Hofmann F, Meyer T, Nisch W, Haemmerle H (2003) Biological application of microelectrode arrays in drug discovery and basic research. Anal Bioanal Chem 377:486-495.