153 results about "Cell based assays" patented technology

We introduce a new method for implementing cell-based assays and long-term cell culture. The method is based on digital microfluidics (DMF) which is used to actuate nanoliter droplets of reagents and cells on a planar array of electrodes. DMF method is sutable for assaying and culturing both cells in suspension and cells grown on surface (adherent cells). This method is advantageous for cell culture and assays due to the automated manipulation of multiple reagents in addition to reduced reagent use and analysis time. No adverse effects of actuation by DMF were observed in assays for cell viability, proliferation, and biochemistry. These results suggest that DMF has great potential as a simple yet versatile analytical tool for implementing cell-based assays and cell culture on the microscale.

The present invention includes devices, systems, and methods for assaying cells using cell-substrate impedance monitoring. In one aspect, the invention provides cell-substrate impedance monitoring devices that comprise electrode arrays on a nonconducting substrate, in which each of the arrays has an approximately uniform electrode resistance across the entire array. In another aspect, the invention provides cell-substrate monitoring systems comprising one or more cell-substrate monitoring devices comprising multiple wells each having an electrode array, an impedance analyzer, a device station that connects arrays of individual wells to the impedance analyzer, and software for controlling the device station and impedance analyzer. In another aspect, the invention provides cellular assays that use impedance monitoring to detect changes in cell behavior or state. In some preferred aspects, the assays are designed to investigate the affects of compounds on cells, such as cytotoxicity assays. In other preferred aspects, the assays are designed to investigate the compounds that effect IgE-mediated responses of cells to antigens.

The present invention includes devices, systems, and methods for assaying cells using cell-substrate impedance monitoring. In one aspect, the invention provides cell-substrate impedance monitoring devices that comprise electrode arrays on a nonconducting substrate, in which each of the arrays has an approximately uniform electrode resistance across the entire array. In another aspect, the invention provides cell-substrate monitoring systems comprising one or more cell-substrate monitoring devices comprising multiple wells each having an electrode array, an impedance analyzer, a device station that connects arrays of individual wells to the impedance analyzer, and software for controlling the device station and impedance analyzer. In another aspect, the invention provides cellular assays that use impedance monitoring to detect changes in cell behavior or state. In some preferred aspects, the assays are designed to investigate the affects of compounds on cells, such as cytotoxicity assays. In other preferred aspects, the assays are designed to investigate the compounds that effect IgE-mediated responses of cells to antigens.

Devices and methods for implementing cell-based assays and long-term cell culture. The device and method are based on digital microfluidics (DMF) which is used to actuate nanoliter droplets of reagents and cells on a planar array of electrodes. DMF method is suitable for assaying and culturing both cells in suspension and cells grown on surface (adherent cells). This method is advantageous for cell culture and assays due to the automated manipulation of multiple reagents in addition to reduced reagent use and analysis time. No adverse effects of actuation by DMF were observed in assays for cell viability, proliferation, and biochemistry. These results suggest that DMF has great potential as a simple yet versatile analytical tool for implementing cell-based assays and cell culture on the microscale.

In the present invention cells are placed in a multiwell plate and grown. When the assay is to be performed, one uses gravity to wash away any unbound ligands rather than vacuum or centrifugation. The cells are then examined to detect the bound ligand. To perform the washing step(s) the plate is placed into a carrier plate having open wells in register with the wells of the filter plate or one may use a wicking device or an underdrain attached to the bottom of the filter plate. Sufficient wash liquid is added to allow for filtration by the effect of gravity to occur. Cells are retained within the wells at a rate of 4 times that of other rapid methods.

This invention provides methods and apparatus for performing microanalytic analyses and procedures, particularly miniaturized cell based assays. These methods are useful for performing a variety of cell-based assays, including drug candidate screening, life sciences research, and clinical and molecular diagnostics.

The instant invention provides a method for establishing safety profiles for chemical compounds, as well as pharmacological profiling said method comprising (A) testing the effects of said chemical compounds on the amount and / or post-translational modifications of two or more macromolecules in intact cells; (B) constructing a pharmacological profile based on the results of said tests; and (C) comparing said profile to the profile(s) of drugs with established safety characteristics. Additionally, the invention is also directed to a composition comprising an assay panel, said panel comprising at least one high-content assay for the amount and / or post-translational modification of a protein and at least one high-content assay for the amount and / or subcellular location of a protein-protein interaction.

In the present invention, a micro-pattern embedded optical film for cell-based assays is described. The optical film contains micro-patterns in the form of geometric shapes, such as lines and curves, and numbers and letters. Furthermore, the optical film contains a coordinate system that allows identification of each location on the optical film for cell-based assays, including cell growth, identification, and measurements under an optical microscope. Furthermore, an apparatus with the micro-pattern embedded optical film and a supporting part is described. Methods for making the optical film and apparatus are disclosed. A method for performing cell-based assays using the optical film or apparatus is shown.

Described herein is a discovery Platform Technology for analyzing a biological system or process (e.g., a disease condition, such as cancer) via model building.

The methods generally relate to three-dimensional culturing of cells with the steps of seeding a cell support structure in a device with at least one vessel for cell culture having a bottom, at least one wall and a cell support structure for three-dimensional cell culture. The cell support structure is inside the at least one vessel and the device is configured such that assays can be performed. Devices for performing cell culture and assays are also provided. It will be understood that the devices can have many different suitable configurations. In general, the devices are selected such that they can be used with suitable radiation based assays.

Described herein is a discovery Platform Technology for analyzing a biological system or process (e.g., a disease condition, such as cancer) via model building

A cellular scaffold that is suitable for tissue regeneration, cell culture and in vitro assays. The invention relates to a layered cell scaffold that is seeded with mesenchymal and ectodermal cells. The layered cellular scaffold comprises an inoculum of mesenchymal cells and ectodermal cells positioned between two opposing scaffolds in a sandwich configuration. The layered cell scaffold provides a functional skin equivalent that is suitable for transplantation and in vitro cell-based assays.

The invention relates to a new “gene-switch” (cumate-inducible switch) for mammalian cells. This switch is as useful in the development of expression systems and cell-based assays for functional genomics as in the generation of viral vectors for gene therapy.

A cell-based assay system in which the detection of the reporter gene activity, or secreted alkaline phosphatase (SEAP), is dependent upon the protease activity of the Hepatitis C virus NS3 gene product. This system can be used to assess the activity of candidate protease inhibitors in a mammalian cell-based assay system. The assay system is simpler than previously described assays due to the use of SEAP which allows the reporter gene activity to be quantified by measuring the amount of secreted gene product in the cell media by monitoring the conversion of luminescent or calorimetric alkaline phosphatase substrate.

The present invention relates to methods for screening of cellular responses of cellular components comprising: (a) providing cellular components on the surface of a substrate, said substrate having immobilized thereon an array of detector molecules; (b) delivering test compounds to positions on the substrate corresponding to the arrayed detector molecules on the surface of said solid substrate; (c) incubating said test compounds with said cellular components on the surface of the solid support, under conditions allowing the induction of cellular responses; (d) assaying said cellular responses; and, identifying and characterizing the cellular responses induced by said test compounds. The present invention further relates to the uses of said methods as well as microarrays and kits for carrying out said methods.

The present invention is directed to a biochip assembly comprising a semi-permeable membrane and an assay method using said biochip assembly for carrying out cell based assays.Ideally, such a method involves measuring the migration of cells in a channel under the influence of an analyte wherein said cells are separated from said analyte by a semi-permeable membrane and said analyte and / or said cells are subjected to controlled flow conditions.

A cell based assay assembly includes a biochip assembly, a liquid delivery unit and detection and recording equipment is used for conducting an assay on a biological cell as it is delivered through the biochip assembly. The biochip assembly includes a plurality of separate biochips each comprising a microchannel with input and output ports, separate reservoir wells are provided on the biochip assembly and are periodically connected to the liquid delivery unit by removable separate disclosed transfer conduits. The input and output ports of the biochip are also periodically connected to the delivery unit by the conduit. The liquid delivery unit includes a liquid link assembly and a positive displacement pump such as a syringe pump. The liquid link assembly includes pressure compressible means which acts to smooth out pressure rises by initially contacting and then expanding to in turn dispense a steady liquid delivery output below 10μ per minute.

Disclosed are compositions and methods for their use, such as in identifying G-protein-coupled receptors, ligands and compounds that modulate the activities of G-protein-coupled receptors. The compositions and methods employ cyclic nucleotide-gated channels and fluorescence dyes in detecting changes of intracellular cAMP levels in response to the stimulation of G-protein-coupled receptors. Activation of the G-protein-coupled receptors can be detected in a variety of assays, including cell-based imaging assays with fluorescence microscopes and high throughput assays with multi-well plates and fluorescence plate readers.

The present invention relates to methods, systems, and kits for intoxicating cells, neuronal and non-neuronal cells, with a toxin or fragment thereof. This is done by subjecting toxin substrate and a lipid or polymeric carrier (e.g., DNA uptake facilitating agent) to one or more cells for use in cell based assays. In an aspect, the methods of the present invention allow for high throughput assays and, as such, for the evaluation of drug candidates.

The present invention discloses novel methods and omental, myocardial, liver, lung, renal, peritoneal, intestinal and pancreatic mesothelial cells which are useful for a number of procedures including drug discovery, co-culturing, cell therapy and bioassay. The invention provides a method for isolating these cells that improves upon the methods previously used and provides cells isolated in quantity. The present invention provides a list of secreted proteins from omentum mesothelial cells that can be utilized in the described cell based assays.

The present invention relates to isolated nucleic acid sequences that encode human olfactory cyclic nucleotide gated (CNG) channel subunits, and the corresponding polypeptides. The invention further relates to the use of human CNG channels to profile, screen for, and identify compounds that modulate the human olfactory CNG channel. More specifically, the invention relates to the expression of the human olfactory CNG channel in cells, preferably mammalian cells, and the use of these cells in high throughput cell-based assays to identify compounds that enhance or block human olfactory CNG function. Compounds that activate the olfactory CNG channel will enhance smell and can be used to make foods more palatable for individuals with attenuated olfactory function. Conversely, compounds that inhibit the olfactory CNG channel will inhibit smell and can be use to block malodors. Additionally, the invention relates to the use of cell-based olfactory CNG channel assays to identify modulates of G-protein coupled receptor (GPCRs) and other proteins that regulate cyclic nucleotide levels.

This patent describes a novel in vitro cell-based method for biological validation and pharmacological screening of drugs, new chemical entities (NCEs) and biologics, which is predictive of in vivo testing for efficacy and adverse events in patients, as occurs in clinical trials. The same method can be used to create an in vitro cell-based assay to identify the ‘right marketed medication for the right patient’ (personalized medicine), and to identify responders / non-responders in ongoing clinical trials with NCEs. In addition this approach can be used to identify new indications for existing medicines and new indications for NCEs that were unsuccessful in their intended uses.

Compounds and associated methods for inhibiting a protein tyrosine phosphatase. By a combination of experimental and virtual screenings of the NCI Diversity Set chemical library, NSC-87877 and NSC-117199 have been identified as Shp2 PTP inhibitors. Significantly, NSC-87877 is active in cell-based assays and has no detectable off-target effects in the EGF-stimulated Erk1 / 2 activation pathway. Additionally, a number of analogs of NSC-117199 have been produced. These analogs exhibit enhanced protein tyrosine phosphatase inhibition and are found to be potent and / or selective inhibitors of Shp1 and / or Shp2 protein tyrosine phosphatases.

Compositions and methods are provided for the classification of biologically active agents according to their effect on human biology, through the use of complex, primary human cell-based disease models in scalable assay formats. The systems of the invention utilize the simultaneous activation of multiple signaling pathways to generate and identify patterns of expression of physiologically important cell surface and secreted molecules. Combinations of multiple cell types may be utilized. Systems encompassing multiple cell types not only respond to perturbations of each cell type's intracellular signaling networks, but also to inhibition of pathways of communication between cells. Readout information may be combined in multi-system analysis, where the profiles obtained from multiple systems are combined in order to provide enhanced resolution for agent classification.

A method for evaluation of molecules to identify those that can act as therapeutic inhibitors of Hsp90 makes use of a fluorescence polarization (FP) assay and a cell based assay, either individually or in combination. The FP assay uses a fluorescently-labeled Hsp90 binding agent and measure the degree of fluorescence polarization relative to the standard. A decrease in the degree of polarization indicates that fluorescently-labeled Hsp90 binding agent has been wholly or partially displaced by a candidate molecule, and identifies the molecule as having activity as an inhibitor of Hsp90. The cell based assay tests for decrease is an Hsp90-dependent activity of normal or tumor cells.

There is provided a cell culture microtrench being defined on or in a surface of a substrate, wherein the ratio of the width of the microtrench to the maximum length of the short axis of a cell type of interest is about 6 or preferably less, the length of the short axis of the cell type being measured when a cell is in detached or suspended form. There is also provided an array comprising such a microtrench and uses of such microtrenches, including cell-based assays.

A microfluidic device, method and kit for assaying and / or culturing cells are provided. The microfluidic device comprises a well block comprising a plurality of microwells; at least one cell culture layer selected from a first cell culture layer comprising a plurality of microchannels, each microchannel being aligned with one of the plurality of microwells and being in fluid communication with the aligned microwells; and a second cell culture layer comprising a plurality of cell culture chamber wells, each cell culture chamber well being aligned with one of the plurality of microwells and being in fluid communication with the aligned microwells, and a plurality of outlets, each of the plurality of outlets corresponding to one of the plurality of cell culture chamber wells; and a base block, wherein the at least one cell culture layer is sealably coupled between the well block and the base block, thereby allowing fluid communication between the plurality of microwells in the well block and the at least one cell culture layer.

The present invention is directed to a rapid, quantitative screening procedure of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-mediated halide transport in cells with the use of a conventional 384-well fluorescence plate reader (FLIPR). The halide sensor is a novel yellow fluorescent protein (YFP) with mutations at positions 46 / 148 / 152 that exhibits bright fluorescence at 37° C.

The invention provides a method that uses enzyme-treatment of whole soybeans or partially defatted soybeans to select soybeans with improved bioactivity or bioactivities. The invention further provides a soybean plant and seed with a non-transgenic mutation conferring enhanced bioactivity as an hydrolysate when compared to hydrolysate from other seeds, for instance in a cell-based assay, including reduced cancer cell viability; increased LDL receptor activity; reduced lipid accumulation; increased adiponectin expression; decreased FAS and LPL expression; reduced production of NO and PGE2, and expression of iNOS and COX-2; higher antioxidant activity; promotion of growth of bifidobacteria; and inhibiting the growth of pathogenic bacteria; for instance when compared to other seeds tested as hydrolysates. The invention also provides soybean plants for use in producing seeds that have an overall improved bioactivity compared to other seeds as hydrolysates by combining effects on several bioactivity assays in a health index. The invention also provides products derived from, and parts of, these plants and uses thereof. Methods for producing such plants are also provided, as well as methods for standardizing or assuring quality control of soybean products with enhanced bioactivity for humans and animals.