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Technology Offer 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. __________________________________________ 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. __________________________________________ 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. 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 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. __________________ Company partners License agreement Contract research CONTACT Dr. Heidi Schmitt Technology Transfer Office Auenbruggerplatz 2 A-8036 Graz +43-316-385-72018 [email protected] __________________________________________ NO• sensor: No. GB 14 190 73.0; Perfusion Robot: No. GB 14 171 40.9 March 2015