Agilent BioTek Cytation 5 Cell Imaging Multimode Reader

Evasion of cell death is a hallmark of cancer cells that allows them to overcome endogenous barriers to cancer development, as well as to resist treatment. Understanding how cancer cells are able to evade cell death promises to unlock new avenues to treat human cancer. In this application note, Agilent presents a fully automated image-based assay to monitor both the proliferation and cell death of a fibrosarcoma cancer cell line in response to multiple antineoplastic drugs in a high-throughput format.

The establishment of in vitro models that mimic tumor invasion as part of the metastatic process is a critical part of oncology research. The need to incorporate multiple cell types, long-term kinetic analysis, methods to allow 3D invasion into the surrounding matrix, and appropriate detection and analysis, has made it difficult to create new models. In this application note, learn more about the procedure that meets these needs through the inclusion of advanced imaging capabilities allowing for the capture of multiple images throughout a range of z-heights, using brightfield and fluorescence channels in a kinetic fashion.

Hepatocarcinoma is one of the most common cancer types in the U.S. with limited treatment options and poor survival rate. The identification of relevant biomarkers is essential for screening and validation of small molecules proposed as chemotherapeutic agents. In this application note, Agilent discusses the development and validation of quantifiable, simple, and fast methods for screening anticancer drug candidates (small molecules) in tumor cell cultures.

The colony formation assay evaluates the proliferative capacity of a single cell. Conventional analysis of this assay involves scoring and quantifying colonies in each well of a multi-well format manually by eye, limiting its throughput capabilities.

In this application note, BioTek Instruments presents an automated high throughput method for conducting a colony formation assay in a 96-well microplate using fluorescence microscopy with the Cytation™ 5 wide field of view. This fluorescence-based method is a powerful application of a classic assay, with a streamlined analytical process.

Establishment of in vitro models that mimic tumor invasion as part of the metastatic process, are a critical part of oncology research. The need to incorporate multiple cell types, long-term kinetic analysis, methods to allow 3D invasion into the surrounding matrix, and appropriate detection and analysis, has made it difficult to create new models. The procedure described here meets these needs through inclusion of advanced imaging capabilities allowing for capture of multiple images throughout a range of z-heights, using brightfield and fluorescence channels in a kinetic fashion. Final processed images, following stitching and z-projection, enable accurate cellular analysis to discern the invasive capabilities of 3D cellular structures over time.

This poster demonstrates the use of a 3D neurosphere model, composed of hNSCs, to conduct toxicity testing of potential neurotoxicants. A spheroid microplate was used to create and maintain cells in the 3D model. 3D neurosphere proliferation, multipotency, along with the continued capacity to differentiate into neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes was initially validated. Neurotoxicity testing was then performed using neurospheres maintained in the 3D spheroid plate. Detection of induced levels of oxidative stress, apoptotic, and necrotic activity within treated neurospheres, compared to negative control spheres, was evaluated. Monitoring of cell proliferation, differentiation, multipotency and experimental testing was performed using a novel cell imaging multi-mode reader.

The ability to manipulate and monitor microbial organisms, such as bacteria and yeasts, is critical to exploiting their many applications, from use in medical products and biomedical research to environmental remediation and food production. Meeting the increasing demands of microbial monitoring is therefore of vital importance, requiring laboratories to optimize their workflows with the most accurate, reliable and up-to-date instrumentation.

Download this application guide to learn how to take your bacterial monitoring to the next level and achieve real-time results, increased productivity and greater efficiency with the latest monitoring technologies, as we cover:

• The principles of light scattering techniques
• New ways to enhance the performance of brewing yeasts
• The advantages of brightfield microscopy for monitoring in real time
• How to achieve optimum productivity, without multiple instruments, whilst reducing costs

In this application note, BioTek demonstrates the use of a novel, automated tool to create consistent and reproducible scratch wounds in cell monolayers formed on the bottom of a microplate well. This application note highlights the use of a single cancer cell model as well as a co-culture of fibroblasts and cancer cells; each plated in collagen-coated microplate wells to more closely simulate in vivo microenvironments and facilitate cell migration.

In this application note, BioTek combines long-term kinetic label-free cell counting and fluorescent imaging to monitor cancer cell responses over several days in a high-throughput 384-well image-based assay. This application note describes how the Cytation™ 5 Cell Imaging Multi-Mode Reader with a wide field of view camera enables the capture of an entire 384-well in a single image.

In this application note, BioTek demonstrates how the hemocytometer cell counting process can be automated using a Cell Imaging Multi-Mode Reader equipped with contrast enhancement technologies. For total cell counts, the Cell Imager uses automated phase-contrast microscopy to count the total number of cells in the field of view which is about 2.9 times larger than the total ruled grid area. This serves to improve the counting statistics relative to counting manually. Furthermore, cell viability can also be determined through the use of automated color imaging of tryptan blue-stained cells in the same field of view.

Chris Laucius, Ph.D., Imaging and Microscopy Specialist at BioTek Instruments, explains how the plate washers and imagers from BioTek Instruments can help with every step of your workflow: from gentle media exchange, sample prep, image acquisition all the way to data analysis.

An exclusive interview with Sabeth Verpoorte, PhD, President of SLAS 2018 and Professor of Pharmaceutical Analysis at the University of Groningen, Netherlands. With a predominant research interest in microfluidics, Professor Verpoorte is passionate about the interdisciplinary, problem-solving platform that SLAS provides. Verpoorte also discusses the trends in technologies on the exhibition floor in 2018.

Produced by Frankie MacDonald and Josh Williams.

Watch this video to learn more about the drug and product screening process at Likarda, a contract research organization. Dr Lisa Stehno-Bittel, President & CEO of Likarda, discusses the problems of screening drugs for efficacy. Due to the nature of cultured cells, it is very difficult to predict which drugs you’re working with are finally going to work in the human body. By employing the BioTek Cytation 5, Likarda is able to offer the most sophisticated 3D results, efficiently testing drugs in a representative manner.

The Cytation™ Cell Imaging Multi-Mode Reader by BioTek Instruments, Inc. has been an invaluable instrument within the Gunning laboratory in Toronto, Canada, helping to accelerate drug discovery by enabling the identification of many promising small molecules in pre-clinical trials. Watch this video to find out more.

Hear how the BioTek Instruments, Inc. Cytation 5 Cell Imaging Multi-Mode Reader with Augmented Microscopy™ provides rich phenotypic cellular information with well-based quantitative data enabling a deeper understanding of biological processes. The system is designed for analysis of whole organisms, to cell population and single cells, and ideal for both academic and pharmaceutical laboratories.

Principal scientist, Brad Larson from BioTek Instruments, Inc, discusses how combination of the Cytation 5 plate reader with Corning’s spheroid microplate range is ideal for 3D cell culture assay and imaging. Discover how the microplates are designed to produce single, consistent spheroids, in high content wells that facilitate reproducible and robust assay data with high quality imaging.

Watch this video to discover how BioTek Instruments, Inc. could enhance your cell imaging workflow. Learn how the Cytation™ 5 Cell Imaging Multi-Mode Reader, combined with Gen™ 5 Data Collection & Analysis Software and the BioSpa™ 8 Automated Incubator facilitate live cell imaging automation, with versatile assay detection, optional imaging modes and environmental controls for long-term imaging.

Watch this short summary of manufacturer and scientist interviews from the recent SLAS conference in Washington D.C., USA. The main report highlights the new innovations and products displayed.

Protect long-term 3D cell-based assays for toxicology, oncology, disease modeling and more

New application notes, videos and products

Keep up to date with the latest research and discover the tools and techniques advancing 3D cell culture and its applications

From CRISPR screening in primary T cells to photodynamic therapy for curing cancer, we take a look back at research highlights and emerging technologies from the past year

A mass spectrometry breath test, artificial intelligence algorithms and novel anti-inflammatory compounds among the innovations that could pave the way for better diagnoses and treatment