Download One-stop Solution Including Microscopic Perfusion

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One-stop Solution Including Microscopic Perfusion Robot System and Sensors for
NO• and Calcium Detection
Wolfgang Graier, Roland Malli, Emrah Eroglu, Markus Waldeck-Weiermair, Sandra Blass,
Institute of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry
BACKGROUND
Pharmaceutical R&D strongly depends on automated
drug screening in order to identify new substances for
treatment of patients. Conventional drug screening technology only provides a limited view on the properties of
substances tested, so further thorough investigation on
functionality including expensive and lengthy animal testings are needed. Scientists involved usually are only experts in their special field of knowledge as pharmaceutical
chemistry, molecular or cell biology, but not in high-tech
microscopy or functional imaging. Microscopy, providing
information on functionality, so far is very complex and
can only be handled by specialists. Combination of both
fields is necessary in order to obtain fast and easy information on properties and real functionality of substances.
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TECHNOLOGY
The Technology consists of a software controlled perfusion system that allows the performance of complex
imaging protocols in a completely automated manner in
multi well formats. The new system consists of automatically, software controlled magnetic switches. So the gravity or pressure driven inflow of more than 80 different
buffers can be controlled and synchronized with individual acquisition setups. To direct the buffer inflow and
suction tubes correctly into the centred well, a software
controlled step motor was installed on the microscope.
COMMERCIAL OPPORTUNITY
The technology is of interest for life-sciences and R&D laboratories in the scientific and pharmaceutical area. Generally
there is an increasing demand in life cell research and a trend
to establish microscopy in all laboratories in order to achieve
high-content functional analysis. Unique sensors now allow
customers to expand R&D to a level that was so far unachievable. So pharmaceutical industry is able to enter a new age
of science where high-throughput meets high-content. This
allows a revolutionary transfer of genetically obtained data
to functional experiments and opens up new markets. The
system is easy to use, time saving, avoids animal testings
and thus fosters earlier market entry for pharmaceutical products.
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DEVELOPMENT PHASE
The system has been tested with complex protocols loading cells with chemical Ca2+ indicators such as fura-2
directly on the microscope in the 96 wells and using genetically encoded NO• probes (geNOps). The latter is
the only sensor in the market that is able to measure directly in single cells, in high temporal and time resolution.
Long protocols can be performed in a multi well mode
in order to obtain freshly loaded cells. This guarantees a
constant cell/response quality over time and control of
cell growth and/or energy status during screening.
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Furthermore customized solutions can be provided with
any kind of fluorescence sensors including analytical methods, screening of siRNA libraries or establishment of
stable sensor cell lines at the request of a customer, in
order to provide complete screenings for pharmaceutical
industry.
COLLABORATION DETAILS
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Sensors: The development of the NO• and Calcium sensors has been completed and the product is available
immediately.
Microscope: A prototype of the perfusion robot has
been built at it is working reliably in the daily routine
under laboratory conditions. Contract research can be
performed immediately.
Following redesign of software user interface,
microscope will be available for sale.
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Company partners
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License agreement
Contract research
CONTACT
Dr. Heidi Schmitt
Technology Transfer Office
Auenbruggerplatz 2
A-8036 Graz
+43-316-385-72018
[email protected]
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NO• sensor: No. GB 14 190 73.0; Perfusion Robot: No. GB 14 171 40.9
March 2015