FURI | Fall 2024

Aluminosilicate Glass Micropipettes for Fluorescence-Guided Electrophysiology System

Patch-clamp electrophysiology is the gold standard for studying neuronal activity. The Smith lab has integrated fiber optics into the patch-clamp micropipette, enabling subtype-specific identification. However, this system relies on borosilicate glass micropipettes, which are limited in geometry and overly brittle, limiting the range of compatible fiber optics. By testing aluminosilicate micropipettes, a more durable glass, new geometries can be explored and optimized by testing several pulling parameters, expanding feasible geometries. This work aims to expand the compatibility of the system to a greater diversity of fiber optics, allowing for improved sensitivity of the imaging system.