FLIPR® Membrane Potential Assay Kit is a homogeneous no-wash assay with mix and read simplicity, rapid read times, and greater temperature stability for extended high throughput ion channel screening applications. Two different no-wash formulations are available for each kit, and uses a proprietary indicator dye combined with different quenchers to maximize cell line/channel/compound applicability while eliminating causes of variability in the data. The proprietary dyes have 10 times faster response times and greater temperature stability than traditional dyes such as DiBAC, which enables batch processing of screening plates or extended automated runs. In addition, unlike DiBAC which can only show unidirectional changes to membrane potential, the FLIPR Membrane Potential Assay Kit can detect the opening and closing of the ion channel. Proprietary quench technology reduces background fluorescence for a wider signal window and provides the best signal-to-noise ratio. The FLIPR Membrane Potential Assay Kit delivers higher throughput than traditional automated FLIPR ion channel protocols while providing data that shows good correlation with manual patch clamp assays.

Fluorescence Intensity Changes with Increase or Decrease in Cellular Membrane Potential

FLIPR Membrane Potential Assay kits detect ion channel modulation by increasing or decreasing the fluorescent signal as cellular membrane potential changes. The fluorescent signal increases in intensity during membrane depolarization as dye follows the positively charged ions inside the cell. During membrane hyperpolarization, fluorescent signal decreases in intensity as dye follows the positively charged ions out of the cell. FLIPR Membrane Potential Assay Kits are uniquely suited for use with the simultaneous pipet and read capability of the FLIPR^TETRA® system to capture the fast kinetics associated with this assay.

Because ion channel activity is sensitive to interference, and chemical interference with a particular ion channel is highly unpredictable, the FLIPR^® Membrane Potential Assay Kit has two formulations, blue and red.  Both formulations combine the advantages of Molecular Devices proprietary membrane potential indicator dye with our patented quench technology.  We recommend that both red and blue versions be evaluated for each individual ion channel target to determine which formulation will provide optimal performance.

Patented technology

FLIPR Assay Kits from Molecular Devices employ a quenching dye to reduce background fluorescence and improve the signal-to-noise ratio. The patented quench technology (U.S. patent number 6,420,183, EPO patent number 0 906 572) is offered to drug discovery and life science researchers exclusively by Molecular Devices, through the purchase of FLIPR Assay Kits.

FLIPR® Membrane Potential Kit Product configuration chart

Kit Configuration