Life Sciences Discovery and Technology Highlights
(Source: Journal of Laboratory Automation)
Source: Journal of Laboratory Automation - November 19, 2016 Category: Laboratory Medicine Authors: Yeo, D., Murthy, T. Tags: From the Literature Source Type: research
Applying Dataflow Architecture and Visualization Tools to In Vitro Pharmacology Data Automation
The pace and complexity of modern drug discovery places ever-increasing demands on scientists for data analysis and interpretation. Data flow programming and modern visualization tools address these demands directly. Three different requirements—one for allosteric modulator analysis, one for a specialized clotting analysis, and one for enzyme global progress curve analysis—are reviewed, and their execution in a combined data flow/visualization environment is outlined. (Source: Journal of Laboratory Automation)
Source: Journal of Laboratory Automation - November 19, 2016 Category: Laboratory Medicine Authors: Pechter, D., Xu, S., Kurtz, M., Williams, S., Sonatore, L., Villafania, A., Agrawal, S. Tags: Technology Briefs Source Type: research
Consolidating a Distributed Compound Management Capability into a Single Installation: The Application of Overall Equipment Effectiveness to Determine Capacity Utilization
Compound management (CM) is a critical discipline enabling hit discovery through the production of assay-ready compound plates for screening. CM in pharma requires significant investments in manpower, capital equipment, repairs and maintenance, and information technology. These investments are at risk from external factors, for example, new technology rendering existing equipment obsolete and strategic site closures. At AstraZeneca, we faced the challenge of evaluating the number of CM sites required to support hit discovery in response to site closures and pressure on our operating budget. We reasoned that overall equipme...
Source: Journal of Laboratory Automation - November 19, 2016 Category: Laboratory Medicine Authors: Green, C., Taylor, D. Tags: Technology Briefs Source Type: research
A Wide Linearity Range Method for the Determination of Lenalidomide in Plasma by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography: Application to Pharmacokinetic Studies
In conclusion, the proposed method is suitable for the accurate quantification of lenalidomide in human plasma with a wide linear range, from 100 to 950 ng · mL–1. This is a valuable method for pharmacokinetic studies of lenalidomide in human subjects. (Source: Journal of Laboratory Automation)
Source: Journal of Laboratory Automation - November 19, 2016 Category: Laboratory Medicine Authors: Guglieri-Lopez, B., Perez-Pitarch, A., Martinez-Gomez, M. A., Porta-Oltra, B., Climente-Marti, M., Merino-Sanjuan, M. Tags: Original Reports Source Type: research
Adapting a Low-Cost Selective Compliant Articulated Robotic Arm for Spillage Avoidance
Flexible automation systems provide the needed adaptability to serve shorter-term projects and specialty applications in biochemical analysis. A low-cost selective compliant articulated robotic arm designed for liquid spillage avoidance is developed here. In the vertical-plane robotic arm movement test, the signals from an inertial measurement unit (IMU) and accelerometer were able to sense collisions. In the horizontal movement test, however, only the signals from the IMU enabled collision to be detected. Using a calculation method developed, it was possible to chart the regions where the obstacle was likely to be located...
Source: Journal of Laboratory Automation - November 19, 2016 Category: Laboratory Medicine Authors: McMorran, D., Chung, D. C. K., Li, J., Muradoglu, M., Liew, O. W., Ng, T. W. Tags: Original Reports Source Type: research
A Simple and Easy Process for the Determination of Estimated Plasma Glucose Level in Patients Presenting to Hospital: An Example of Multicentric Data Mining
The aim of the present study was to determine the relation between the simultaneous fasting plasma glucose level and HbA1c in a large population of patients presenting to the hospital, based on various measurement methods available for HbA1c. HbA1c levels of 162,210 patients presenting to various hospitals and laboratories were measured based on seven different systems, and at the same time, eAG levels were calculated based on HbA1c levels. The correlation coefficients (r) between serum plasma glucose and HbA1c levels were found to be 0.809, 0.774, 0.779, 0.817, 0.704, 0.796, and 0.747 in Bio-Rad Variant II, Tosoh G8, ADAM...
Source: Journal of Laboratory Automation - November 19, 2016 Category: Laboratory Medicine Authors: Serdar, M. A., Koldas, M., Serteser, M., Akın, O., Sonmez, C., Gülbahar, O., Akbıyık, F., Ünsal, I. Tags: Original Reports Source Type: research
Automated Patch Clamp Meets High-Throughput Screening: 384 Cells Recorded in Parallel on a Planar Patch Clamp Module
We have developed an automated patch clamp module for high-throughput ion channel screening, recording from 384 cells simultaneously. The module is incorporated into a laboratory pipetting robot and uses a 384-channel pipettor head for application of cells and compounds. The module contains 384 amplifier channels for fully parallel recordings using a digital amplifier. Success rates for completed experiments (1- to 4-point concentration–response curves for cells satisfying defined quality control parameters) of greater than 85% have been routinely achieved with, for example, HEK, CHO, and RBL cell lines expressing hN...
Source: Journal of Laboratory Automation - November 19, 2016 Category: Laboratory Medicine Authors: Obergrussberger, A., Brüggemann, A., Goetze, T. A., Rapedius, M., Haarmann, C., Rinke, I., Becker, N., Oka, T., Ohtsuki, A., Stengel, T., Vogel, M., Steindl, J., Mueller, M., Stiehler, J., George, M., Fertig, N. Tags: Original Reports Source Type: research
Implementation of an Automated High-Throughput Plasmid DNA Production Pipeline
Biologics sample management facilities are often responsible for a diversity of large-molecule reagent types, such as DNA, RNAi, and protein libraries. Historically, the management of large molecules was dispersed into multiple laboratories. As methodologies to support pathway discovery, antibody discovery, and protein production have become high throughput, the implementation of automation and centralized inventory management tools has become important. To this end, to improve sample tracking, throughput, and accuracy, we have implemented a module-based automation system integrated into inventory management software using...
Source: Journal of Laboratory Automation - November 19, 2016 Category: Laboratory Medicine Authors: Billeci, K., Suh, C., Di Ioia, T., Singh, L., Abraham, R., Baldwin, A., Monteclaro, S. Tags: Original Reports Source Type: research
Automated Processing of Plasma Samples for Lipoprotein Separation by Rate-Zonal Ultracentrifugation
Plasma lipoproteins are the primary means of lipid transport among tissues. Defining alterations in lipid metabolism is critical to our understanding of disease processes. However, lipoprotein measurement is limited to specialized centers. Preparation for ultracentrifugation involves the formation of complex density gradients that is both laborious and subject to handling errors. We created a fully automated device capable of forming the required gradient. The design has been made freely available for download by the authors. It is inexpensive relative to commercial density gradient formers, which generally create linear g...
Source: Journal of Laboratory Automation - November 19, 2016 Category: Laboratory Medicine Authors: Peters, C. N., Evans, I. E. J. Tags: Original Reports Source Type: research
Toward Automated Interpretation of LC-MS Data for Quality Assurance of a Screening Collection
The AstraZeneca Compound Management group uses high-performance liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry for structure elucidation and purity determination of the AstraZeneca compound collection. These activities are conducted in a high-throughput environment where the rate-limiting step is the review and interpretation of analytical results, which is time-consuming and experience dependent. Despite the development of a semiautomated review system, manual interpretation of results remains a bottleneck. Data-mining techniques were applied to archived data to further automate the review process. Various classification m...
Source: Journal of Laboratory Automation - November 19, 2016 Category: Laboratory Medicine Authors: Addison, D. H. Tags: Original Reports Source Type: research
Automated Device for Asynchronous Extraction of RNA, DNA, or Protein Biomarkers from Surrogate Patient Samples
Many biomarker-based diagnostic methods are inhibited by nontarget molecules in patient samples, necessitating biomarker extraction before detection. We have developed a simple device that purifies RNA, DNA, or protein biomarkers from complex biological samples without robotics or fluid pumping. The device design is based on functionalized magnetic beads, which capture biomarkers and remove background biomolecules by magnetically transferring the beads through processing solutions arrayed within small-diameter tubing. The process was automated by wrapping the tubing around a disc-like cassette and rotating it past a magnet...
Source: Journal of Laboratory Automation - November 19, 2016 Category: Laboratory Medicine Authors: Bitting, A. L., Bordelon, H., Baglia, M. L., Davis, K. M., Creecy, A. E., Short, P. A., Albert, L. E., Karhade, A. V., Wright, D. W., Haselton, F. R., Adams, N. M. Tags: Original Reports Source Type: research
Curcumin in Treating Breast Cancer: A Review
Breast cancer is among the most common malignant tumors. It is the second leading cause of cancer mortality among women in the United States. Curcumin, an active derivative from turmeric, has been reported to have anticancer and chemoprevention effects on breast cancer. Curcumin exerts its anticancer effect through a complicated molecular signaling network, involving proliferation, estrogen receptor (ER), and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) pathways. Experimental evidence has shown that curcumin also regulates apoptosis and cell phase–related genes and microRNA in breast cancer cells. Herein, we revie...
Source: Journal of Laboratory Automation - November 19, 2016 Category: Laboratory Medicine Authors: Wang, Y., Yu, J., Cui, R., Lin, J., Ding, X. Tags: Review Article Source Type: research
Life Sciences Discovery and Technology Highlights
(Source: Journal of Laboratory Automation)
Source: Journal of Laboratory Automation - September 19, 2016 Category: Laboratory Medicine Authors: Murthy, T. Tags: From the Literature Source Type: research
Ultra-High-Throughput Sample Preparation System for Lymphocyte Immunophenotyping Point-of-Care Diagnostics
Point-of-care (POC) microfluidic devices often lack the integration of common sample preparation steps, such as preconcentration, which can limit their utility in the field. In this technology brief, we describe a system that combines the necessary sample preparation methods to perform sample-to-result analysis of large-volume (20 mL) biopsy model samples with staining of captured cells. Our platform combines centrifugal-paper microfluidic filtration and an analysis system to process large, dilute biological samples. Utilizing commercialization-friendly manufacturing methods and materials, yielding a sample throughput of 2...
Source: Journal of Laboratory Automation - September 19, 2016 Category: Laboratory Medicine Authors: Walsh, D. I., Murthy, S. K., Russom, A. Tags: Technology Brief Source Type: research
Automated Gravimetric Calibration to Optimize the Accuracy and Precision of TECAN Freedom EVO Liquid Handler
High-throughput screening technologies are increasingly integrated into the formulation development process of biopharmaceuticals. The performance of liquid handling systems is dependent on the ability to deliver accurate and precise volumes of specific reagents to ensure process quality. We have developed an automated gravimetric calibration procedure to adjust the accuracy and evaluate the precision of the TECAN Freedom EVO liquid handling system. Volumes from 3 to 900 µL using calibrated syringes and fixed tips were evaluated with various solutions, including aluminum hydroxide and phosphate adjuvants, β-case...
Source: Journal of Laboratory Automation - September 19, 2016 Category: Laboratory Medicine Authors: Bessemans, L., Jully, V., de Raikem, C., Albanese, M., Moniotte, N., Silversmet, P., Lemoine, D. Tags: Original Reports Source Type: research
