OpenPicoAmp

thingiverse

To promote neuroscience education, low-cost and engaging teaching materials are vital. As a solution, the OpenPicoAmp—an open-source lipid bilayer amplifier designed using common lithographic printed circuit board fabrication process and off-the-shelf electronic components—can be utilized in introductory courses on biophysics or neurosciences exploring cell membrane electrical properties. The experimental setup includes a specific design for chambers that accommodate commercially available polytetrafluoroethylene films, allowing students to monitor bilayer formation by capacitance measurement and record unitary currents produced by ionic channels like gramicidin A. Combined with low-cost data acquisition boards, this system provides a comprehensive solution for hands-on lessons, enhancing the effectiveness of teaching basic neurosciences or biophysics concepts. Check out related resources at arXiv, PLOS ONE, YouTube and Thingiverse.