Cell based Assays and Screening Technologies
Shahab Uddin, Technology Manager, Centre for Cellular and Molecular Platforms
An Early part of drug discovery
process involves screening a library of compounds using defined biochemical methods
in an uHTS format. However, the effect of a NCE’s on an organism is complex and
involves interactions at multiple levels, which is hard to understand or
predict by just biochemical methods. In order to understand this complexity,
cell based screening are more relevant to predict the response as either
therapeutic or toxic in nature, the introduction of 3D cultures, which support
cell growth and mimic in vivo microenvironments, better correlation can be made
and small animal studies serve as an even better models. These assay systems in
use for drug target validation and ADMET studies can provide more
representative responses to in-vivo conditions. Opting for a cell-based assay requires
understanding the endpoint measured, correlation with cell viability and
limitations of assay chemistries. I will
discuss a model assay system, advances in assay chemistries and
signal detection technologies
to be considered when choosing cell-based assays for automated systems.
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