SpectraMax® Microplate Readers

Despite significant advances in understanding cancer's molecular and cellular basis, there is still much to learn about its causes, progression, and potential treatments. Researchers increasingly rely on innovative tools and techniques to continue making headway in this critical field. One such indispensable instrument is the microplate reader. In this application eBook from Molecular Devices, explore a comprehensive overview of the role of microplate readers in cancer research and development. Furthermore, dive into the science behind these versatile devices, exploring how they have revolutionized our ability to study cancer at a cellular level.

This application note demonstrates the performance of NanoBRET™ technology for detecting protein interactions in living cells, using SpectraMax® Multi-Mode Microplate Readers. By leveraging the high sensitivity and flexible detection options of these instruments, researchers can accurately measure NanoBRET signals and analyze data with SoftMax® Pro Software. The note highlights assay validation across five reader models, showcasing their capability to deliver reliable results with enhanced signal quality and low background.

ELISA methods have become widely used across various fields of biology, from healthcare and food safety to cancer research and vaccine development. Whether you need to measure gluten in beer or neutralizing antibodies in serum, there is an ELISA available to provide answers to your scientific questions. Despite being first introduced over 50 years ago, ELISAs continue to be an essential tool for many researchers. In this application eBook from Molecular Devices, explore an introduction to ELISAs and how you can effectively use them in your own research.

In recent years, the culture of cancer cells, along with other cell types, in three-dimensional (3D) formats where they can form multi-layered structures is enabling new models for cancer research that are considered more biologically relevant. In this application note from Molecular Devices, explore a small-scale study of cell viability in 2D and 3D cell cultures, measured using the CellTiter-Glo® 3D Cell Viability assay (Promega). Discover how Molecular Devices assayed the viability of two cell types grown in 2D and 3D and challenged with several previously tested compounds.

Absorbance microplate readers are widely used in basic research, drug discovery, bioassay validation, quality control, and manufacturing processes in pharmaceutical, biotech, food and beverage, and academic industries. These readers provide rapid and sensitive measurements of a variety of analytes across a wide range of concentrations for a wide range of assays, including ELISAs, microbial growth, detection of key compounds and contaminants, and protein quantification. In this application note from Molecular Devices, explore various applications using SpectraMax® absorbance readers and SoftMax® Pro Software to illustrate how these technologies can help save time and effort while easily generating the required data.

Luminescent cell viability assays offer sensitivity and an easy workflow for monitoring the effects of various experimental conditions. These use the firefly luciferase reaction as a way to determine the relative numbers of living cells under different treatments or experimental conditions. Metabolically active cells produce ATP, which is required by the luciferase reaction. When ATP is the limiting component in the reaction, the amount of light produced is proportional to and serves as the readout for the number of viable cells. In this application note, explore how Molecular Devices validated the performance of Promega’s CellTiter-Glo® 2.0 Cell Viability Assay on the SpectraMax® iD5 Multi-Mode Microplate Reader.

Measuring cell health from the multiple vantage points of viability and apoptotic pathways can provide insight into the impacts of a variety of experimental treatments including drug candidates, pathway activators and inhibitors, and reporter genes. One of the most popular methods for assaying cell health is fluorescence detection with a microplate reader. In this application note, Molecular Devices reports the use of the EarlyTox™ Cell Viability suite of assay kits on the SpectraMax® iD3 Multi-Mode Microplate Reader.

Introducing the QPix® XE, the next generation of the QPix® 400 Series high-throughput microbial colony pickers. This compact model offers researchers enhanced flexibility in workflow integration, serving as an accessible entry point to automation for those in the early stages of their research journey.

The Plasmid Prep Starter Bundle from Molecular Devices eliminates laborious steps from the traditional plasmid preparation processes. This fully automated platform is designed for researchers seeking to streamline plasmid preparation, from transformation to purification. Achieve low-to-medium throughput with validated protocols, all within an entry-level automation setup that allows for seamless expansion.

This video was filmed at SLAS2024.