Alginate immobilized mammalian neurons: a potential tool to isolate new neuronal ligands.

We developped improved immobilization conditions which permitted (i) to immobilize neuroblastoma cells (N18) in calcium-alginate gel beads, (ii) to test the function of ionic channels using patch-clamp electrophysiological techniques and (iii) to quantitatively analyze ligand interactions with voltage-dependent sodium channels in neurons inside the beads. These results qualify this immobilization technique for the isolation and/or purification of ligands specific for neuronal cells.