Cell-based assay reagent delivery using temperature-sensitive polymers

基于细胞的分析现在是候选药物临床前测试的首选方法，也可用于评估传统药物、食品成分和医疗器械等多种材料的生物活性和安全性。这种广泛的应用促进了检测试剂盒的开发，这些试剂盒使相对缺乏经验的操作者和具有有限细胞培养基础设施的操作者可以使用基于细胞的检测。产生测定读数的试剂的输送是测定过程中的关键步骤，为了获得最佳测定性能，应在多个测定样品中同步进行，并且在不干扰培养物中细胞的情况下进行。该项目测试了通过使用培养物的小的、短期的温度操纵从基于热敏聚合物的胶囊释放来递送底物以实现这些期望属性的可行性。开发的技术将应用于一种新的基于细胞的检测试剂盒。

Cell-based analysis is now the preferred method for preclinical testing of candidate drugs, as well as having use in evaluating the biological activity and safety of materials as diverse as traditional medicines, food components and medical devices. This wide utility is prompting development of assay kits that make cell-based assays available to relatively inexperienced operators and those with limited cell culture infrastructure. Delivery of reagents that generate the assay read-out is a critical step in the assay process and should, for optimal assay performance, be synchronised across multiple assay samples and performed without disturbing the cells in culture. This project tests the feasibility of realising these desirable attributes by delivering substrate through release from thermosensitive polymer-based capsules using small, short-term temperature manipulation of the cultures. The technology developed will be applied in a novel panel of cell-based assay kits.