FLIPR Penta® High-Throughput Cellular Screening System

In this application note, Molecular Devices describes a method for semi-automated culturing and monitoring of cerebral organoids, as well as the testing of functional neuronal activity by means of recording Ca2+ oscillations.

Biology research has been greatly simplified by the availability of standardized assay kits, instruments, and assay protocols from commercial manufacturers. However, assay optimization remains an essential and often time-consuming step to ensure the desired sensitivity and specificity to the target of interest. Molecular Devices presents its range of easy-to-use, robust assay kits for protein, DNA, and cell-based assays. Discover how these assay kits are optimized for the highest data quality on Molecular Devices instruments, including compatible software to streamline your workflow.

In this application note, Molecular Devices describes methods for assembling normal human iPSC-derived cell types, including glutamatergic neurons, GABAergic neurons, and astrocytes into 3D neurospheres for compound profiling. Neural organoids and 3D spheroids are a rapidly developing technology with great potential for understanding brain development and neuronal diseases. They provide a more advanced and biologically relevant system for basic research and high-throughput drug discovery, including compound profiling and toxicity testing.

In this application note, Molecular Devices® describes the anatomy and applications of its FLIPR® Penta high-throughput cellular screening system.

The applications of this system include:

• GPCR: Monitor GPCR activity and corresponding intracellular second messenger changes (calcium and cAMP) using fluorescence and luminescence cell based assays
• Membrane potential: Observe real-time membrane potential changes associated with ion channel activation and ion transporter proteins
• Cardiomyocytes: Observe calcium flux to assess cardiotoxicity in the early stages of drug discovery
• Potassium channels: Measure functional activity of ligand- and voltage-gated potassium channels
• Ligand-gated calcium channels: Measure the change of global intracellular calcium, in response to the activation of ion channels
• 3D assays: Detect calcium oscillations in 3D cardiomyocyte and neuronal, providing a biologically relevant assay system to assess potential new pharmaceutical treatments and environmental toxins
• Biochemical assay: Enable fast 'inject and read' kinetic enzyme assays, increasing the throughput of biochemical assays compared to standard plate readers

In this application note, Molecular Devices® addresses the challenge of developing predictive cell-based assays for compound screening and toxicity assessment in drug discovery. The focus of the study is to establish cardiotoxicity assays compatible with high-throughput screening using human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived cardiomyocytes. The aim is to evaluate the utility of these cells as an in vitro pro-arrhythmia model by assessing their responses to 28 drugs associated with different torsades de pointes (TdP) risk categories.

In this application note, Molecular Devices® explores the use of a tri-culture model with cardiomyocytes, endothelial cells, and cardiac fibroblasts derived from human iPSCs to enhance the maturation and functional activity of cells, more closely resembling actual heart physiology compared to 2D cardiomyocytes. The study involves creating 3D microtissues by mixing iPSC-derived cardiac and endothelial cells with primary adult fibroblasts. The microtissues exhibited spontaneous and regular contractions within 48 hours and were tested for functional activity by recording calcium oscillations using the FLIPR® Penta High-Throughput Cellular Screening System. The response of the microtissues to various cardiac activity modulators was investigated.

In this application note, Molecular Devices describes a method for semi-automated culturing and monitoring of cerebral organoids, as well as the testing of functional neuronal activity by means of recording Ca2+ oscillations.

In this video, Molecular Devices® introduces the FLIPR® Penta High-Throughput Cellular Screening System – a platform that supports various assays, including G-protein coupled receptors (GPCR), membrane potential, cardiomyocytes, potassium channels, ligand-gated calcium channels, 3D assays, and biochemical assays through available kits. Its user-friendly interface and intuitive software streamline the screening process, saving time and boosting productivity.

Bruker, FortéBio, Biotix and Molecular Devices among the manufacturers recognized in San Diego