| Popis: |
As the drug discovery process evolves and demands more challenging and relevant assays, we have experienced a recent and significant escalation in the number of cell-based high-throughput assays for both small molecule and target identification screens. This has resulted in an increased need for the reproducible production of high quality cells in large quantities. Historically, manual cell culture was the only option available for providing cells in sufficient numbers for small molecule ultra-high-throughput screens (uHTSs), representing a technology gap in our automated cell culture process. Recently, we have applied an automated solution in the form of a novel 10-layer tissue culture flask, the HYPERFlask (Corning, Lowell, MA). This technology, when introduced as an upgrade to the SelecT (an automated cell culture system manufactured by The Automation Partnership, Ltd., Royston, England), provides a new approach to automating production of the high number of cells required for uHTS and consequently a highly desirable alternative to manual cell culture. The HYPERFlask has a surface area of 1720 cm2 and can yield up to 3 × 108 cells after 3 days in culture. This can be compared to a typical yield of 2 × 107 cells from a T175 flask (with a surface area of 175 cm2), the current standard flask type for automated cell culture on the SelecT. Cells grown in both flask types are of comparable quality, as demonstrated by equivalent cell viability, yield per cm2, functional response, and pharmacology. |
