Neurotoxicity Services
Neurotoxicity is a major cause of compound attrition during drug discovery and development. Subtle effects on neuronal excitability or network function can remain undetected until late stages, leading to costly delays or safety concerns.
ChanPharm provides mechanistically driven neurotoxicity assessment services based on advanced electrophysiology and neuronal network analysis, enabling early detection of functional CNS liabilities and informed decision-making.
What We Offer
Our neurotoxicity services are designed to identify functional effects on neurons and neuronal networks, supporting safer and more efficient CNS and non-CNS drug development.
- Early detection of neurotoxic liability
- Mechanistic insight into neuronal effects
- Support for compound prioritization and optimization
Neuronal Models & Experimental Formats
Cellular Models
- Human iPSC-derived neurons
- Primary human and rodent neurons
- 3D neuronal spheroids
- Peripheral and central neurons (sensory, GABAergic, glutamatergic, cortical, and others)
Experimental Formats
- Single-neuron recordings by manual patch clamp
- Short- and long-term cultured neuronal network recordings using Multi Electrode Arrays
- 3D neuronal spheroid electrophysiology
Methods & Data
Single-Cell Electrophysiology
- Resting membrane potential
- Action potential firing properties
- Ion channel current characteristics
- Changes in neuronal excitability
MEA-Based Network Readouts
- Spike rate and burst frequency
- Network synchrony
- Functional connectivity
- Detection of abnormal or epileptiform activity
Functional Assessment
- Dose-dependent effects on neuronal activity
- Reversibility and recovery
- Time-dependent neurotoxicity
Technologies
Our neurotoxicity services are supported by validated electrophysiology platforms widely used in neuroscience research.
SyncroPatch 384 — Nanion Technologies
High-throughput automated patch clamp for neuronal ion channels.
The SyncroPatch 384 provides parallel whole-cell recordings for the functional screening of neuronal ion channel targets, particularly using recombinant over-expression cell lines of relevant channels (Nav, Cav, Kv, and others). It supports rapid concentration-response profiling for hit-to-lead prioritisation.
Best suited for: High-throughput ion channel screening, over-expression cell lines, IC50 determination
NANION TECHNOLOGIES HIGH THROUGHPUT
Patchliner — Nanion Technologies
Automated patch clamp for neuronal ion channel studies.
The Patchliner enables functional assessment of ion channel activity in neuronal systems. It provides automated whole-cell recordings from neurons and neuronal cell lines, allowing for the evaluation of compound effects on neuronal excitability and ion channel function.
Best suited for: Neuronal ion channel screening, medium-throughput neurotoxicity assessment, functional profiling
NANION TECHNOLOGIES MEDIUM THROUGHPUT
Manual Patch Clamp
Detailed characterization of neuronal excitability and firing properties.
Conventional whole-cell electrophysiology systems provide high-resolution recordings of neuronal activity. This gold-standard approach allows for detailed analysis of action potential properties, firing patterns, and synaptic responses in individual neurons.
Best suited for: Detailed neuronal characterization, action potential analysis, synaptic transmission studies
GOLD STANDARD HIGH RESOLUTION
MEA Systems — Multi Channel Systems (MCS)
Long-term, non-invasive recordings of neuronal network activity.
Multi-Electrode Array (MEA) technology enables simultaneous recording from multiple electrodes in neuronal networks over extended periods. This approach captures emergent network properties, including synchronization, burst dynamics, and functional connectivity that cannot be observed at the single-cell level.
Best suited for: Network-level neurotoxicity assessment, seizure liability detection, chronic exposure studies
MCS NETWORK PHYSIOLOGY
Voltage Sensitive Dyes (VSD)
Optical readout of neuronal membrane potential.
Voltage-sensitive dye imaging records changes in membrane potential across intact neuronal populations, providing a complement to MEA field-potential recordings with single-cell spatial resolution and the ability to detect sub-threshold voltage events.
Best suited for: Population-level excitability, sub-threshold events, spatial activity mapping
OPTICAL POPULATION-LEVEL
High-Speed sCMOS Imaging (Kinetix)
High-speed optical imaging for neuronal function.
The Kinetix sCMOS camera enables high-frame-rate calcium and voltage imaging of neuronal cultures and 3D spheroids, capturing network activity, calcium homeostasis, and compound-induced changes with population-level spatial context.
Best suited for: Calcium imaging, 3D spheroid activity, network burst analysis
TELEDYNE PHOTOMETRICS HIGH SPEED