I am applying different drug solutions to cells that I am whole-cell patching. Each solution is in a syringe connected to a thin tube that goes through a barrel manifold into a glass micropipette for semi-local diffusion. The syringe is slowly pumped mechanically. Despite bringing the solutions to room temperature before adding to tubes, and not explicitly adding any gas to them, bubbles form on the walls of the syringe and every now and then get into the micropipette. When the bubble is in the micropipette, it affects flow rate, drastically obscures optics, and potentially damages cells if the bubble is large enough. Would anyone recommend degassing (ie by creating a vacuum, as one would prior to running a column) drug solutions for applications with electrophysiology? We do not actively gas the solution with CO2 or O2 or anything.

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