Cell Based Assays
Drug discovery can be approached in a variety of ways. Screening a large number of compounds using defined biochemical assays in an ultrahigh-throughput format usually is usually an early part of the experimental process. However, the effect of a drug on an organism is complex and involves interactions at multiple levels that cannot be predicted using biochemical assays.
In order to understand this complexity, an increased use of cell-based screening assays as more biologically relevant surrogates to predict the response of the organism. In addition, at some point in the drug discovery process, predicting cellular toxicity is important. Eukaryotic cell culture is accepted as the model system of choice to get a first approximation of toxicity.
Genomic Solutions® provides various instrument and tools relate to cell based assays, such as high-throughput cell culture, low volume cell dispensing, etc.
Cell Growth
It’s critical to have the proper control of temperature, gas flow and orbital shaking to acheive the optimal cell growth conditions in case of high-throughput cell culture. Currently, there are not many options on the market since most of the cell culture systems are tailored to much larger volume, such as culture flaskes, etc.
The HiGro® is a high-capacity, incubating shaker designed to accelerate sample
growth in microwell plates. This uniquely engineered instrument combines a small shaking orbital, gas flow and temperature control system in a user-friendly,
compact layout. Plate-holding cassettes allow for easy loading and unloading. The convenience and control of the HiGro® system make it the ideal solution for facilities with high-throughput growth needs as well as for laboratories using
applications that are best optimized in a microwell format.
- See more information on HiGro®
Cell Dispensing
One of the challenges of automating cell based assays is to maintain viability of the cells during the dispensing process as well as dispensing the cells with a high degree of precision. SynQUAD™ non contact-dispensing technology has been used successfully in dispensing low volumes of cells and has become an important tool for cell based research.
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