Student stories

Using the Patchliner to investigate
Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

Tools:Patchliner

Dr. Alessandro Cerchiara
featured by Nanion Technologies
Alessandro Giovanni Cerchiara is a young

Can you give us a brief summary of your PhD?

PhD settled in Bari. In February 2024, hecompleted his PhD studies in Pharmaceutical“The long-term interests of the group where I did my PhD are

Sciences in the laboratories of Pharmacology

neuromuscular disorders, with a main focus on Duchenne

headed by Professor Annamaria De

Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), an inherited genetic condition

Luca, under the supervision of Professors

with severe and progressive development. Ion channel

Ornella Cappellari and Paola Imbrici forpharmacology for rare channelopathies is another field

the training in organoids/myogenesis andof interest. The research activity is mainly dedicated toelectrophysiology, respectively.

exploring the pathogenic mechanisms at the basis ofthese disorders, as well as to the preclinical evaluation ofpotentially effective treatment options in these uncurable

Introduction
As a member of the team of Pharmacology, coordinatedby Professor Annamaria De Luca, at the Department ofPharmacy – Drug Sciences of the University of Bari Aldo
Moro, I had the unique opportunity to visit Nanion as a PhD
student to increase my expertise in electrophysiology. Thecompany kindly welcomed me, and it became for me likea home away from home. Thanks to the Nanion team, I
learned in detail the automated patch clamp technique (i.e.
Patchliner) and I deepened my knowledge in ion channels,
pharmacology and electrophysiology. Each member ofNanion’s family supported me during my experiments andexchanging ideas with them was a great opportunity tobetter understand electrophysiology and automated patchclamp. The Patchliner is a great instrument which allowed
me to accelerate the part of my PhD project regarding ion
channels role in skeletal muscle myogenesis, also thanks
to its user-friendly commands and software. Furthermore,
it was easy to set customized protocols before starting anexperiment and changing parameters on-the-fly. My visiting
period at Nanion and with the Patchliner grew my passionin ion channels and patch clamp even more. It was anexperience that I won’t easily forget!

Alessandro in the lab
Alessandro spent 3 months at Nanion’s headquartersin Munich working with the Patchliner and waswelcomed to the lab by the Nanion team: Tom,Martin, Nouran and Maria Giustina.

disorders. These goals are pursued via the use of in vitro
cellular models, 3D organoids and animal models, by meansof several techniques for the multidisciplinary evaluation offunctional, structural, and molecular parameters relevant tothe pathology, with specific expertise in electrophysiology(e.g. current and voltage clamp). During my PhD, I wasdirectly responsible for muscle precursor cell cultures andelectrophysiological studies for developing functional
3D muscle organoids. Specifically, I used the patch
clamp technique for biophysical and pharmacologicalcharacterization of ion currents in wild-type and dystrophic
myocytes both of murine and human origin. Furthermore,since dystrophin (lacking in dystrophic settings) indirectlyinteracts with ion channels, their role could be important forthe development and differentiation (myogenesis) of maturemuscles. Ion channels are, in fact, pivotal for maintaining theresting membrane potential, priming excitation-contraction

“The “Patchliner team” helped me to better understand theinstrument from the electrophysiology part to the user-friendly
software they developed.”
Dr. Alessandro Cerchiara, University of Bari

coupling, and regulating calcium homeostasis. Also,

What was your project at Nanion?

maturation of myofibers during myogenesis likely relies on ion
channel function and expression changes to reach the full

“At Nanion, I used the Patchliner for two main purposes

state of differentiation. Thus, it is possible to better understandrelated to my PhD project: assess the NaV channel isoform

the relationship between the involvement of ion channels

selectivity of mexiletine-like compounds, a long-term

and myogenesis both in wild-type and dystrophic settings byinterest in the laboratory in Bari, and to perform – for theusing patch clamp techniques. Moreover, muscle specificfirst time with an automated patch clamp platform - anion channels can represent useful biomarkers to monitor theelectrophysiological characterization of human-derived

myofiber differentiation state, also of the muscle organoid,

skeletal muscle cells.”

and they could also be appealing drug targets.”
What was your best moment during your time at Nanion?
What brought you to Nanion?
“Now, it is difficult to pick up just one best moment at Nanion,“Since our laboratory has long-term expertise in thesince I really enjoyed every moment, from the experiment-biophysical and pharmacological characterization ofrelated moments to the lunch breaks. The “Patchliner team”

different ion channels in various primary and secondary

helped me to better understand the instrument from therare channelopathies, it was important to acquire aelectrophysiology part to the user-friendly software they

tool for reproducible and efficient electrophysiologicaldeveloped; I was supported by each member of the team,characterization and screening of different drugs to speed

when I was doubtful about some experiments: each one ofup preclinical research. So, in the frame of an ongoingthem taught me really a lot about automated patch clamp,

collaboration with Nanion, the company hosted me asdata analysis and more. Moreover, I really enjoyed - othera visiting PhD student for three months to have an insightthan exchanging ideas about experiments and automatedand learn advanced electrophysiology techniques, such

patch clamp – having lunch together both in the Nanion

as automated patch clamp. Moreover, the experience atbuilding and the nearby restaurants. For me, Nanion team

Nanion was useful to implement the automated patch-clamp

members were not only hard-working colleagues, but also

technology in Professor De Luca’s laboratory.”kind friends. In addition, Nanion made me grow even more
my passion and knowledge for electrophysiology and I reallyowe them a lot. By using the Patchliner, I rapidly advanced
my PhD project and especially with the pharmacologicalcharacterization of mexiletine-derived compounds on
different NaV channel types of interest for therapeutic and/or side effects. Furthermore, for the first time, I successfullyrecorded ion currents from myocytes, confirming thePatchliner as an outstanding tool for academic research.”

Alessandro and the team enjoying a well-earned break.
Alessandro enjoyed his time at Nanion, not only from ascientific perspective but also from a personal perspective,enjoying lunches out with the Nanion team at local
restaurants. Here enjoying lunch with Maria Giustina, Rasmus,Kefan, Nouran, Marta, Tom and Martin.

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