anti-bubble coating

Does anyone know any treatment that could decrease formation of bubbles on platinum grids used to hold slices in place? Sometimes bubbles just lift the grid and slice's attachement to MEAs becomes weaker..

Many thanks,

Max

Hi Max, many people use a horseshoe-shaped frame of rather thick wire onto which a nylon mesh or some threads are glued. The wire usually is way to heavy for some bubbles to lift it. If you do need to use your type of grid try cleaning it in warm acetone or similar degreasing methods.
Good luck,
Uli

The question is where are the bubbles coming from, and can you get rid of them in the first place:

1. Are you getting bubbles from having a room temperature solution that has been oxygenated, arrive at a heated MEA chamber? (ie, you're getting degassing in the chamber).

If so you could decrease your bubble formation in the first place by preheating your solution in the bottles, or using the syringe heater followed by an airtrap.

2. Otherwise, are your bubbles from electrolysis during stimulation? If so, you're cooking your tissue with too high of stimulation and damaging the electrodes.
You should probably lower your stimulation intensity. If you cannot get a good response without very high stimulation, you should check all your parameters, solution composition, tissue health, tissue contact, etc. As a last resort you can use external wire electrodes mounted on a manipulator.