My Cart
My account
Menu
Main Menu

aCSF Instant Powder Packets For More Reproducible and Time-Efficient Electrophysiology

Cell Culture Flask with Stem Cells

★ Introduction ★ Validated Patch-Clamp Results ★ Testimonials ★ Benefits ★ The Instant Packet Range

 

Preparing artificial cerebrospinal fluid (aCSF) and cutting solutions from scratch is a time-consuming, error-prone necessity of electrophysiology. Even small deviations in osmolarity or pH can lead to inconsistent results and compromised slice health.

Our Instant Powder Packets eliminate the variability of manual prep. Each packet is precision-weighed to make exactly 1L of solution—simply dissolve in dH2O, bubble with carbogen, and you’re ready to record. Stop weighing individual salts, prevent osmolarity drift, and ensure perfect consistency every time.

★ Trusted Standard formulation
aCSF Instant Powder (Packets)
The proven, robust choice for consistent patch-clamp and imaging results.
Allows customization
aCSF Instant Powder (Mg2+ / Ca2+ free) (Packets)
Designed for custom workflows: contains zero divalent cations to allow end-user specification.
protect slices during cutting
Cutting Solution Instant Powder (Packets)
High sucrose formulation for acute brain slice preparation
Increased neuroprotection
Cutting Solution Instant Powder (Choline Chloride) Type 1 Packets
Cutting solution with choline chloride to reduce excitotoxicity during slice preparation.
Highlights from the Instant Pack Range

Why Scientists Love Instant Pack Buffers

Researchers are switching to Hello Bio instant packets to eliminate the variability of manual buffer preparation which solves critical osmolarity and consistency issues in sensitive applications like 2-photon imaging and patch-clamp electrophysiology:

“

Amazing. We were having issues getting consistency with our 2-photon slice imaging and ultimately it must have been the osmolarity of our previous aCSF that we were making because the minute we switched to Hello Bio, our results just got better. Honestly, so so worth it!! And really easy and straightforward. I love this product.

Verified customer, MIT
“

Excellent service. The cost for this and the normal ACSF was highly competitive. The delivery came within 48 hours, which I greatly appreciated! The formulation as small crystals and the non stick packaging is well designed - it means the sachets are easy to use. Altogether I highly recommend Hello Bio for electrophysiology supplies.

Verified customer, University of Oxford

Standardize your entire workflow with our Internal Solution kits

Don't let manual prep at the bench compromise your recordings. Pair your Instant aCSF Packets with our Internal Solution Kits for standardized, high-reproducibility electrophysiology.

Explore Internal Kits

Proven Performance: Validated Patch-Clamp Results

Instant Packet aCSF and cutting solutions have been extensively validated in a diverse range of patch-clamp experiments. By ensuring a highly accurate formulation in every packet, the range eliminates manual weighing errors and osmolarity drift that often compromise slice health and data reproducibility.

Exceptional Slice Viability & Stability

Hippocampal slices prepared and maintained using Hello Bio instant solutions exhibit outstanding long-term health. Representative traces show stable excitatory postsynaptic currents (EPSCs) for over 60 minutes, with series resistance and holding currents maintained within strict normal parameters throughout the entire recording window.

Exceptional Slice Viability & Stability

 

Summary of experiment recording excitatory post synaptic currents (EPSCs) for over 75 minutes in mouse pyramidal neurons. Method: C57BL/6J mouse brain sections were prepared following standard protocols (Udakis et al., 2020). Pyramidal neurons in hippocampal CA1 were patched using a CsMeSO4 internal solution containing QX314, held at -70mV in voltage clamp and stimulated in a paired pulse stimulation protocol (50ms interval) via the stratum radiatum to excite Schaffer collateral synapses. Figures shown are representative traces from different timepoints during the experiment, the input current required to hold the cell at -70mV, the series resistance, the amplitude of the initial EPSC and the ratio of amplitudes of the two EPSCs (paired pulse ratio).

Cell Health
 
Series resistance (Rser) and holding current (DC) were maintained within normal parameters for the whole 60 minute recording.

High-Fidelity Spontaneous Recordings

The highly accurate ionic composition of our pre-formulated aCSF supports sensitive voltage-clamp recordings. Slices demonstrate robust baseline activity, allowing for the clear, high-resolution quantification of both spontaneous inhibitory (sIPSC) and excitatory (sEPSC) postsynaptic currents.

High-Fidelity Spontaneous Recordings

 

Traces showing both spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic currents (EPSCs) and spontaneous inhibitory postsynaptic currents (IPSCs). Method: C57BL/6J mouse brain sections were prepared following standard protocols (Udakis et al., 2020). Pyramidal neurons in hippocampal CA1 were patched using a CsMeSO4 internal solution containing QX314. Neurons were held in voltage clamp sIPSCs being recorded at 0mV.

Spontaneous EPSCs
 
Cells were additionally held at -70mV to record spontaneous EPSC events (sEPSC) which exhibit characteristic sEPSC kinetics.

Universal Experimental Compatibility

Slices maintain excellent synaptic integrity, supporting a wide variety of advanced stimulation protocols. Recordings show clear, reliable responses across multiple event types, including paired-pulse EPSCs, distinct IPSCs, single-pulse EPSPs, and NMDA-dependent plateau potentials.

Universal Experimental Compatibility

 

Representative traces from four different experiments to measure NMDA dependent plateau potentials, excitatory post synaptic potentials (EPSPs), inhibitory postsynaptic currents (IPSCs) and excitatory postsynaptic currents (EPSCs). Method: C57BL/6J mouse brain sections were prepared following standard protocols (Udakis et al., 2020). Pyramidal neurons in hippocampal CA1 were patched using a CsMeSO4 internal solution containing QX314 and stimulated via the stratum radiatum to excite Schaffer collateral synapses. Plateau potentials: Cells were held using current clamp and adjusted to a resting voltage of -69mV. Cells were then stimulated with one pulse followed by 5 stimuli at 100Hz frequency.
EPSP: Cells were held using current clamp and adjusted to a resting voltage of -69mV before being stimulated with a single pulse. IPSC: Cells were held at 0mV using voltage clamp before being stimulated with a single pulse. EPSC: Cells were held at -70mV before being stimulated via a paired pulse protocol with an interval of 50ms.

Example IPSC Traces
 
Examples of both single stimulation and paired pulse derived IPSCs recorded in HB9200 - aCSF Instant Powder (Packets)

Why Scientists Are Switching to Instant Packet Electrophysiology Buffers

  • Rapid Preparation: Save time with preformulated 1L packets that dissolve in seconds, eliminating manual weighing and salt additions.
  • Precision & Reproducibility: Minimize human error and prevent osmolarity drift with highly accurate, expertly validated formulations.
  • Superior Slice Health: Reduce excitotoxicity and protect acute ex-vivo brain slices with specialized sucrose and choline chloride cutting buffers.
  • Workflow Flexibility: Choose from ready-to-use standard solutions, highly protective cutting buffers, or customizable Mg2+/Ca2+ free options.
Figure 1

The Instant Packet Range

Whether you are preparing acute ex-vivo brain slices or maintaining long-term recordings, our range of pre-formulated instant packets provides a standardized solution for every stage of your workflow. From protective cutting solutions designed to reduce excitotoxicity to maintenance buffers extensively validated for patch-clamp experiments, these kits eliminate manual weighing errors to ensure highly accurate and reproducible data. Each packet dissolves in seconds, providing 1L of solution at the precise physiological pH and osmolarity required for your research.

aCSF Formulations

Used to maintain ex-vivo brain slices in physiological conditions and enables their survival for over 8 hours following dissection:

  • aCSF Instant Powder (packets) Versatile formulation containing 1.3mM Mg2+ and 2.5mM Ca2+, extensively validated in patch-clamp electrophysiology.
  • aCSF Instant Powder (Mg2+/Ca2+ free) (packets) Customizable formulation that allows experimenters to specify their own concentrations of divalent cations dependent upon experimental requirements.
  • aCSF Solution (Sterile Filtered) High quality solution suitable for use in microdialysis and intra-cranial injections.

Cutting Solution Formulations

Used to protect neuronal activity during the brain slice preparation process:

  • Cutting Solution Instant Powder (packets) High sucrose protective buffer specifically formulated for preservation of neuronal activity during preparation of acute ex-vivo brain slices.
  • Cutting Solution Instant Powder (choline chloride) type 1 (packets) Designed to reduce excitotoxicity during slice preparation, resulting in higher-quality recordings.
  • Cutting Solution Instant Powder (choline chloride) type 2 (packets) An alternative high-protection choline-chloride based cutting solution formulation.
  • Sucrose aCSF Instant Powder (packets) Lower sucrose protective buffer for preservation of neuronal activity during preparation of acute ex-vivo brain slices with high Mg2+ to prevent excitotoxicity.
★ Trusted Standard formulation
aCSF Instant Powder (Packets)
The proven, robust choice for consistent patch-clamp and imaging results.
Allows customization
aCSF Instant Powder (Mg2+ / Ca2+ free) (Packets)
Designed for custom workflows: contains zero divalent cations to allow end-user specification.
protect slices during cutting
Cutting Solution Instant Powder (Packets)
High sucrose formulation for acute brain slice preparation
Increased neuroprotection
Cutting Solution Instant Powder (Choline Chloride) Type 1 Packets
Cutting solution with choline chloride to reduce excitotoxicity during slice preparation.
Increased neuroprotection
Cutting Solution Instant Powder (Choline Chloride) Type 2 Packets
Alternative formulation: cutting solution with choline chloride to reduce excitotoxicity during slice preparation.
Increased neuroprotection
Sucrose aCSF Instant Powder (packets)
Lower sucrose protective buffer for preparation of ex-vivo brain slices.
Suitable for microdialysis
aCSF Solution (Sterile Filtered)
High purity solution suitable for microdialysis and intra-cranial injections

References

  1. Banks et al., 2021. Plasticity in Prefrontal Cortex Induced by Coordinated Synaptic Transmission Arising from Reuniens/Rhomboid Nuclei and Hippocampus. Cereb Cortex Commun. PMID: 34296174
  2. Buchanan et al., 2010. Facilitation of long-term potentiation by muscarinic M(1) receptors is mediated by inhibition of SK channels. Neuron. PMID: 21145007
  3. Park et al., 2021. PKA drives an increase in AMPA receptor unitary conductance during LTP in the hippocampus. Nat Commun. PMID: 33462202
  4. Segev et al., 2016. Whole-cell Patch-clamp Recordings in Brain Slices. J Vis Exp. PMID: 27341060