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Tecan OEM component automates the ScreeningTool for faster and more precise ion channel screening

Tecan
15 Dec 2006

Product news

npi electronic has chosen Tecan components for its groundbreaking ScreeningTool, which combines a Tecan MSP9250™ liquid handling system with a purpose-designed miniature recording chamber for automated screening of voltage- or ligand-gated ion channels in Xenopus oocytes.

The miniature chamber was originally invented by Prof Hering (patent pending), from the University of Vienna, and its integration with the unique npi electronic TURBO TEC amplifier and Tecan OEM liquid handling system provides unprecedented speed, reproducibility and efficiency for high quality drug screening applications.

"The Tecan liquid handling system is ideal for the ScreeningTool for many reasons and, in particular, its drug applications are very quick," explained Hans Reiner Polder, managing director of npi electronic. "Automating the drug application helps to get more reproducible data as the reliability of the instrument, based on the features of the Tecan liquid handling system, is excellent."

The ScreeningTool is based on the standard two-electrode, voltage clamp screening procedure, but performed in a 15ml bath that requires only minimal amounts of sample, and offers precise, automated drug application with millisecond resolution, high speed voltage clamping and very fast solution changes.

"In the future we plan to develop other versions of the ScreeningTool designed for different cell types and we will be very interested in continuing the collaboration with Tecan, as we had a very good experience with this product," said Mr Polder.

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ElectrophoresisElectrophoresis equipment is used to separate mixtures of protein, DNA or RNA, based on their electric charge, size and other physical characteristics, by passing them through a medium such as a polyacrylamide gel, an agarose gel or a capillary tube. Electrophoresis equipment includes horizontal and vertical gel electrophoresis chambers, isoelectric focusing systems, 2D electrophoresis and capillary electrophoresis instruments. Precast gels with a gradient can be used or gels can be hand cast. Samples are run alongside ladders or markers to identify the approximate size of a molecule. Separated proteins and nucleic acids in the gel can be stained or probed with fluorescent markers and then imaged and detected using gel documentation instruments, transilluminators, densitometers and scanners. Find the best electrophoresis equipment in our peer-reviewed product directory: compare products, check customer reviews and receive pricing direct from manufacturers.Lab-on-a-ChipLab-on-a-chip (LOC) technology uses microfluidic chips, such as microarrays, to perform biochemical assays on a small scale. Benefits of lab-on-a-chip include the small volume of sample required as well as the speed of analysis. In selecting lab-on-a-chip devices consider the assay, cost, reliability, sensitivity and signal to noise ratio.High-Throughput ScreeningHigh-throughput screening (HTS) is an automated drug discovery technique for identification of active compounds against a compound library. Use HTS readers and integrated assay preparation / analysis workstations to screen your compounds. Identify active compounds against various HTS libraries, including membranes, proteins and peptides and HTS cell lines. Find the best high-throughput screening products in our peer-reviewed product directory: compare products, check customer reviews and receive pricing direct from manufacturers.Baths and CirculatorsLaboratory baths and circulators are capable of refrigerating and heating to meet the demands of any temperature controlled application.Biopharmaceutical AdvancesBiopharmaceutical advances follow the development of pharmaceuticals derived from biotechnology, also known as biotechnology medicines. Biopharmaceuticals may be produced from cell lines, plants, or microbial cells. Important considerations of biopharmaceutical use include application, cost, production process and purification.

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Tecan OEM component automates the ScreeningTool for faster and more precise ion channel screening