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AMSBIO Releases New High-Throughput Genotoxicity Skin Assay

AMSBIO
29 Jun 2017
Abigail Berry
Administrator / Office Personnel

Product news

AMSBIO has announced the launch of DermaChip® - a new high throughput assay technology that allows scientists, for the first time, to reliably measure the genotoxic risk of a whole range of environmental agents (including cleaning agents, household products and industrial chemicals as well as cosmetics) to our skin.

Using risk assessment data from a micronucleus assay together with the traditional Comet analysis of cells isolated from treated 3D skin culture models has been shown to be a better predictor of skin toxicity compared to the standard battery of in vitro toxicity assays. However, in some in vitro models, unacceptable backgrounds are observed as a function of skin preparation.

DermaChip® combines extracellular matrix 3D Culture technology with CometChip® technology to provide a unique platform able to specifically isolate basal keratinocytes for genetic toxicology testing using in vitro skin models. The elimination of cells migrating to the stratum corneum, that potentially harbour damaged DNA from the analysis, reduces the background for some 3D models.

DermaChip® technology is based on the incorporation of collagen I into our CometChips®, forming a disposable gel attached to the specially treated 96-well format glass slides. Instead of being randomly dispersed in agarose on a glass slide as in the traditional Comet Assay, cells in the DermaChip® are captured on an array of microwells. Each well contains approximately 400 microwells of 30 microns diameter, displayed in a defined pattern and depth which causes the captured test cells to reside in a single plane. Leveraging this advance - a single 96-well DermaChip® can produce 20,000 data points per chip, based on an average of 208 cells imaged per well.

The collagen gel specifically traps basal keratinocytes expressing integrin beta-1 before they differentiate and migrate to the stratum corneum. During their natural migration, cells stop dividing and ultimately lose their nucleus. During the process, DNA damage accumulates resulting in high comet backgrounds. By trapping basal keratinocytes, DermaChip® eliminates this background. Prior to Comet analysis, the identity of trapped cells is confirmed by Anti-integrin beta-1 immunostaining labeled with quantum dots. Only basal keratinocytes are included in comet data analysis

Find more information about AMSBIO here.

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High-Throughput ScreeningHigh-throughput screening (HTS) is an automated drug discovery technique for identification of active compounds against a compound library. Use HTS readers and integrated assay preparation / analysis workstations to screen your compounds. Identify active compounds against various HTS libraries, including membranes, proteins and peptides and HTS cell lines. Find the best high-throughput screening products in our peer-reviewed product directory: compare products, check customer reviews and receive pricing direct from manufacturers.Cell-Based AssaysCell-based assays are used to monitor the presence, quantity and activities of a desired cellular analyte including drug molecules or biomarkers. This can reveal information on cell health (apoptosis, cytotoxicity, viability and proliferation assays), cell metabolism, cell migration and cell signaling mechanisms. Find the best cell-based assay products, kits and equipment with our peer reviewed product directory: compare products, check customer reviews and receiving pricing direct from manufacturers.In VitroIn vitro refers to experiments conducted outside living organisms, often in controlled lab environments such as petri dishes or test tubes. In vitro models are widely used in drug testing, cell biology, and disease research. Explore in vitro research tools in our peer-reviewed product directory; compare products, check reviews, and get pricing directly from manufacturers.GenotoxicityHigh ThroughputHigh throughput experiments allow the simultaneous processing of several samples. This parallelization reduces the cost per experiment and increases reproducibility and output volume of data.Live Cell ImagingLive cell imaging is the study of living cells using microscopes and high-content imaging systems. This technique provides in-depth insight into fast and complex biological processes, by allowing dynamic imaging of living cells instead of acquiring an individual image at a single point in time.Assay DevelopmentThe process of proving an assay to be sensitive with respect to the target is known as assay development. The assay should be able to characterize novel compounds and measure the potency of these compounds against a validated biological target.

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AMSBIO Releases New High-Throughput Genotoxicity Skin Assay