20100330607 | PHOTOSWITCH-ENABLED ION CHANNEL ASSAY SYSTEM - The present invention provides a system for assaying ion-channels. In some embodiments, the ion-channel assay provides a reversible change to the membrane potential of a target, e.g., a cell, upon exposure to light. In some embodiments, the membrane potential readout is fed back through a control circuit to regulate the excitation intensity of the illumination sources that induce, respectively, hyperpolarizing and depolarizing currents, thereby effecting closed-loop control of the membrane potential. | 12-30-2010 |