bScreen LB 991:Label-free High-Throughput Reader

Hits:3788   Date: 9/16/2015

With the bScreen Berthold Technologies presents a unique instrument for biomolecular interaction studies. The bScreen combines the performance of μArray formats with the information available from label-free technologies. With a footprint of only 66 x 61 cm2 it substitutes a fluorescence μArray reader and a conventional label-free system (e.g. SPR) in a single instrument.

The exclusive Biametrics 1Lambda-Reflectometric Interference Detection (1Lambda-RIDe) facilitates the analysis of the complete binding kinetics of 1 up to 20,000 individual interactions in one single measurement for real high-throughput screening (rHTS). Thus, the bScreen combines the world of fluorescence assays with the label-free kinetic studies for all applications, when time optimization, efficiency and the complete characterization of biointeractions are required. Hence, the bScreen is best suited for the following areas of application:

 • Epitope Mapping with high-density protein- and peptide arrays
 • Diagnostic Screening for virus detection, in cancer diagnostics or in systems biology approaches
 • Pharmaceutical Screening of small molecules (MW <150 Da) with high-throughput
 • Consumer Safety in quality control, particulate matter pollution and biohazard screening

bScreen accepts biochips with the conventional microscopy slide format of 75 x 25 mm2 in size as array chips to guarantee full compatibility to almost all μArray spotters. The slides will be delivered with specialized 2D- or 3D-biopolymer coatings with applicationspecific surface functionalizations to enable covalent binding. Interaction analysis is accomplished by interferometrically monitoring changes in the optical thickness (n x d) due to specific analyte binding. All measurements are carried out in a continuous sample flow,facilitating the complete characterization of  the kinetics of the binding processes. bScreen with1Lambda-RIDe technology allows for the determination of the parameters ass listed below:

 • Concentration(<1pg/mm²)
 • Association rate constants k_a(10³-10⁷ M^-1 s^-1,higher for macromolecular analytes) 
 • Dissociation rate constants k_d (10 ^-6-0.5s^-1)  • Affinity constant K_D
 • Enthalpy(H) and entropy(△S)

The patented 1Lambda-RIDe  technology is largely temperature-independent, making expensive and time consuming thermostatization of the instrument or of the solutions obsolete.As a label-free method, the 1Lambda-RIDe  technology features  a direct assay-format without the need of  additional components (e.g.fluorescence-labelled  antibodies). Thus material- and time intense washing steps inherent in established µArray protocols are not required.As a consequence, the overall quality of the analysis is increased, as the risk  of dissociation of weak binders during the washing steps is prevented (false-negatives).Moreover, the 1Lambda-RIDe technology does not suffer from  the detectioon of  false-positives due to unspecific binding of the fluorescence-labels to the surface.

The bScreen comes with an intuitive software package, which conntrols the setup-up of measurement protocols,  the sample handling  as well as the  measuremennt procedure. Integrated interfaces enable  the import of  *.gal-files containing  µArray-definitions foor  a  rapid set-up  of the sample  area. The performant  evaluation-kit enables comprehensive kkinetic analyses of the measured data.  Versatile export functions  allow for the  transfer of raw  and measurement data  to third party software for easy integration of the bScreen into LIMS-environmeents.

About Berthold Technologies
Berthold Technologies, a family driven company with its headquarters in Bad Wildbad, Germanyy, has been providing bioanalytical instruments to the life sciences market forr more than 60 years. The company is offering to customers in academic and pharmaceutical research, as well as cliniccal diagnostics,  innovative  products through a worldwide network of subsidiaries and distributors. 

Contact
Bernd Hutter &  Dr. Frank Schleifenbaum
BERTHOLD TECHNOLOGIES GmbH & Co. KG
bio@berthold.com
phone: +49 7081 1770
www.Berthold.com/bio