Whole-cell patch clamp recording for hERG channel under physiological temperature using QPatch Compact semi-automated patch clamp system

Cardiac ion channel activity is important to generate cardiac action potentials in appropriate timing and duration. Drug-induced impairment of those ion channels causes abnormal cardiac activity such as QT interval prolongation, ventricular arrhythmia and, in most serious cases, sudden death. These effects are one of the leading causes of drug withdrawal from the market or denied regulatory approval of new therapeutic candidates. The Comprehensive in vitro Proarrhythmia Assay (CiPA) has been initiated to improve drug safety assessment to overcome drug attrition that could happen by only hERG channel inhibition assay. To provide accurate data for in silico model, it is recommended to test the drug effect on ion channels under physiological temperature. In this study, we assessed the inhibitory effects on hERG channels of a compound under physiological temperature conditions (37°C) through whole-cell patch clamp experiments conducted using the QPatch compact system.