ImageXpress Nano Automated Imaging System

The goal of many researchers is to elucidate the complex cellular pathways within 2D and 3D cellular structures in response to chemical stimulation or stress. The capacity to which scientists have access to and can adopt emerging cellular imaging and analysis technology fuels their level of understanding. In this eBook, Molecular Devices provides an overview of the new tools that can be used to better understand complex imaging models.

Numerous biological applications require monitoring of cell number, cell health, confluency, and proliferation during multiple time points without fluorescent markers or other labels. In particular, there is an increased need for reliable and efficient cell counting methods to assess a variety of cell responses when monitoring cells with transmitted light (TL) imaging.

GPCRs are the largest group of signal transducing transmembrane proteins, constituting roughly 4% of the proteincoding genome. They play integral roles in a wide range of biological pathways from response to sensory inputs (gustatory, olfactory, and visual) to cell growth, and cardiovascular and immune system regulation. They have also been implicated in a wide variety of diseases, such as autoimmune diseases, cancer,
as well as metabolic, cardiovascular, and neurologic disorders. With their ability to demonstrate high specificity and affinity for their ligand, GPCRs are a crucial target for drug discovery.

Cardiotoxicity remains a primary cause for drug attrition during clinical trials and post-marketing. While it is believed that a significant percentage of cardiovascular diseases are due to environmental exposures, identities of the causative environmental agents remain largely uncharacterized. Accordingly, an important target area for assay development for in vitro screening includes the detection of potential cardiotoxic effects.

Assessing damage to DNA or chromosomes is frequently addressed with research applications because of its implications in diverse diseases including genetic mutations, cancer, and aging. DNA damage may occur spontaneously or result from exposure to ionizing radiation, environmental influences and contaminants, or chemical compounds. Previous research demonstrated that phosphorylation of histone H2AX on serine139 is an early and sensitive indicator of DNA double-strand breaks.

Autophagy is a highly regulated process of degrading and recycling damaged proteins and organelles in response to cellular stress which has recently been linked to various neurodegenerative diseases - including Parkinsons. This application note examines the efficacy of using the ImageXpress Nano system and CellReporterXpress software for high-content screening for inducers, or inhibitors of autophagy. The authors conclude that the systems provide numerous beneficial services such as the efficient running of autophagy assays using automated imaging, subsequent detection of compound effects on autophagy, and aiding in the identification of new therapeutic agents that target autophagy.

Growing concerns about the increased prevalence of untested chemicals in the environment has created a pressing need to develop reliable and efficient screening tools to identify chemicals that could potentially affect human health, particularly in neurological development.

Optimize your 3D assay and make your next breakthrough in cellular imaging - with intelligent, innovative imaging solutions.

This video introduces the ImageXpress Nano by Molecular Devices. Easy, automated cellular imaging and analysis with CellReporterXpress™ Automated Image Acquisition and Analysis Software.