Ten Steps to Better Patch Clamping

Since its introduction by Bert Sakmann and Erwin Neher in 1978, patch-clamping techniques have become widely accessible with commercially available equipment. And while the science of patch clamping might require a re-education in basic electrical principles, the real art lies in forming the seal between the micropipette and the cell membrane. We asked Areles Molleman, a researcher and lecturer in cellular and membrane physiology at the University of Hertfordshire, UK, and the author of Patch Clamping: An Introductory Guide to Patch Clamp Electrophysiology, for his tips on forming that perfect seal. His advice follows.