Membrane Potential Testing Service for Global Life Science and Pharmaceutical Compliance
As an ISO/IEC 17025 accredited laboratory, we deliver a specialized membrane potential testing service that quantifies voltage differences across biological and artificial membranes for drug discovery, toxicity screening, antimicrobial development, and quality control. Our membrane potential testing service supports pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and environmental companies who must demonstrate conformity to ICH, OECD, ISO, and regional regulatory standards across the European Union, North America, East Asia, and the Middle East. Every assay is performed under our CNAS-accredited quality system, producing reports accepted by notified bodies, regulatory authorities, and global procurement teams.
Product Samples We Regularly Test in Our Membrane Potential Testing Service
- Cultured mammalian cells — adherent and suspension cell lines, primary neurons, cardiomyocytes, and hepatocytes for mitochondrial and plasma membrane potential measurement
- Isolated mitochondria and submitochondrial particles — for direct assessment of mitochondrial membrane potential and respiratory chain function
- Bacterial and fungal suspensions — Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, mycobacteria, and yeast for antimicrobial susceptibility and mechanism-of-action studies
- Artificial lipid bilayers and liposomes — planar bilayer lipid membranes, black lipid membranes, and giant unilamellar vesicles for ion channel and pore-forming peptide analysis
- Ion-selective electrode membranes and sensor films — polymer inclusion membranes and solid-contact membranes for potentiometric sensor qualification
- Tissue slices and organelle preparations — brain, heart, and liver slices, synaptosomes, and sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles for tissue-level membrane potential analysis
- Sperm, oocyte, and embryo samples — for fertility assessment and assisted reproductive technology quality control
- Plant and algal protoplasts — for stress response, ion transport, and environmental toxicity studies
Membrane Potential Testing Service for Mitochondrial Function and Cytotoxicity
- Mitochondrial membrane potential by JC-1 ratiometric fluorescence per internal validated protocols and ISO 10993-5 — the lipophilic cationic dye JC-1 accumulates in energized mitochondria and shifts from green to red fluorescence as membrane potential increases. The red-to-green fluorescence ratio is measured by flow cytometry or fluorescence microplate reader to quantify mitochondrial depolarization, a key indicator of apoptosis and cytotoxicity.
- Mitochondrial membrane potential by TMRM, TMRE, and DiOC6(3) per internal validated protocols — these potentiometric dyes distribute across the mitochondrial membrane according to the Nernst equation. The fluorescence intensity is measured to calculate the millivolt value of the mitochondrial membrane potential and to detect early apoptotic changes in drug-treated cells.
- High-throughput screening of mitochondrial toxicity per OECD 432 and ICH S7B — compound libraries are tested for their effect on mitochondrial membrane potential using 96-well or 384-well plate formats with automated fluorescence imaging, providing quantitative structure-activity relationship data for drug safety assessment.
- Mitochondrial swelling and permeability transition pore assay per internal protocols — the change in mitochondrial membrane potential is correlated with the opening of the permeability transition pore, measured by light scattering at 540 nm, to investigate mechanisms of cell death and ischemia-reperfusion injury.
- Real-time kinetic monitoring of mitochondrial membrane potential — the fluorescence signal is recorded continuously before and after compound addition to capture the kinetics of mitochondrial depolarization, enabling determination of the onset time, rate, and reversibility of the effect.
Membrane Potential Testing Service for Bacterial and Antimicrobial Susceptibility
- Bacterial membrane potential by DiBAC4(3) and DiSC3(5) per internal validated protocols and OECD 209 — these anionic and cationic potential-sensitive dyes are used to measure the membrane potential of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Depolarization caused by antimicrobial peptides, antibiotics, or disinfectants is quantified by fluorescence spectroscopy to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration and the mechanism of action.
- Membrane potential as an indicator of bacterial viability per ISO 20743 and ASTM E2871 — the membrane potential is measured in parallel with live/dead staining to distinguish viable, injured, and dead bacteria, supporting the evaluation of antimicrobial efficacy and the development of rapid detection methods.
- Antimicrobial mechanism-of-action studies — the effect of test compounds on bacterial membrane potential is compared with their effect on membrane permeability and ATP content to classify the mechanism as membrane disruption, depolarization, or metabolic inhibition.
- Biofilm and persister cell membrane potential analysis — bacteria within biofilms or in a persister state are treated with antimicrobials, and the membrane potential is measured by fluorescence microscopy to assess the heterogeneity of the response and to identify subpopulations with reduced susceptibility.
- Fungal and mycobacterial membrane potential testing — specific dyes and protocols are applied to Candida albicans, Aspergillus niger, and Mycobacterium species to evaluate antifungal and antimycobacterial activity through membrane potential measurement.
Membrane Potential Testing Service for Artificial Lipid Bilayers and Ion Channels
- Planar lipid bilayer membrane potential measurement by patch clamp and voltage clamp per internal validated protocols — artificial bilayer lipid membranes are formed across an aperture, and the membrane potential is controlled and measured using a patch clamp amplifier. The effect of ion channel proteins, pore-forming peptides, and small-molecule modulators on the membrane potential is quantified to determine single-channel conductance, open probability, and voltage dependence.
- Ion channel and transporter reconstitution assays — purified ion channels and transporters are reconstituted into liposomes or planar bilayers, and the membrane potential generated by ion flux is measured using voltage-sensitive dyes or microelectrodes to verify functional activity and to screen for modulators.
- Pore-forming peptide and toxin evaluation — the membrane potential of artificial bilayers is monitored before and after the addition of pore-forming peptides such as melittin, alamethicin, or bacterial toxins. The rate and extent of membrane depolarization are used to rank the potency and to investigate the mechanism of pore formation.
- Membrane potential of giant unilamellar vesicles by fluorescence microscopy — GUVs containing voltage-sensitive dyes are observed under a fluorescence microscope, and the membrane potential is calculated from the fluorescence intensity to study lipid bilayer electrostatics and the effect of membrane composition.
- Electrochemical impedance and capacitance measurement of supported lipid bilayers — the membrane potential and integrity of supported lipid bilayers on gold or ITO electrodes are characterized by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy to verify the formation of a stable, high-resistance membrane for biosensor development.
Membrane Potential Testing Service for Ion-Selective Electrodes and Sensor Membranes
- Potentiometric membrane potential and electrode slope per ISO 17025 and IUPAC recommendations — the membrane potential of ion-selective electrodes is measured against a reference electrode in a series of standard solutions, and the Nernstian slope, detection limit, and linear range are calculated to verify the sensor performance for pH, sodium, potassium, calcium, and other ions.
- Selectivity coefficient determination by fixed interference and separate solution methods per IUPAC — the membrane potential is measured in the presence of interfering ions, and the selectivity coefficients are calculated to quantify the sensor's specificity for the target ion.
- Response time and potential drift measurement — the time required for the membrane potential to reach 90% of its final value after a step change in ion concentration is recorded, along with the potential drift over time, to verify the stability and speed of the ion-selective membrane.
- Membrane resistance and impedance spectroscopy — the electrical resistance of the ion-selective membrane is measured by impedance spectroscopy to verify the membrane composition and to detect any degradation or contamination that would affect the potentiometric response.
- Long-term stability and lifetime testing of sensor membranes — the membrane potential is monitored over days or weeks of continuous use, and the change in slope, detection limit, and selectivity is recorded to predict the sensor lifetime and to support maintenance scheduling.
Membrane Potential Testing Service for Tissue and Organelle Preparations
- Sharp microelectrode membrane potential measurement in tissue slices per internal validated protocols — glass microelectrodes filled with potassium chloride are inserted into cells within brain, heart, or liver slices, and the resting membrane potential is recorded to evaluate tissue viability and the effect of pharmacological agents.
- Voltage-sensitive dye imaging of tissue preparations — styryl dyes such as di-4-ANEPPS are used to map membrane potential changes across tissue slices or cultured networks, providing spatial and temporal resolution of electrical activity for neuroscience and cardiac research.
- Synaptosome and sarcoplasmic reticulum membrane potential measurement — isolated synaptosomes and sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles are loaded with potential-sensitive dyes, and the membrane potential is measured to study neurotransmitter release, calcium handling, and ion transport.
- Mitochondrial membrane potential in isolated organelles — mitochondria isolated from tissue or cultured cells are incubated with JC-1 or TMRM, and the fluorescence is measured to assess the effect of substrates, inhibitors, and uncouplers on the mitochondrial membrane potential.
Report Recognition and ISO/IEC 17025 Compliance
Every test method described in this membrane potential testing service is covered by our ISO/IEC 17025 scope of accreditation. Our technical reports and certificates of analysis are accepted by European notified bodies for pharmaceutical and medical device submissions, by North American FDA and EPA regulatory authorities referencing OECD and ICH guidelines, and by customs and procurement agencies across the Middle East, Australia, and Asia. Whether you require a complete mechanistic characterization for a new drug candidate, a batch release inspection for an antimicrobial product, or a root cause failure analysis of a sensor membrane, our laboratory provides the measurement accuracy and bioelectrical expertise that the global life science and pharmaceutical industries demand.
