Many of the characteristics of a drug—its efficacy, solubility, toxicity, and other features—can be studied in vitro. Besides exploring what a drug does in the body, scientists also study what the body does to the drug, better known as ADME, or how a drug is Absorbed, Distributed, Metabolized, and Excreted. By knowing how compounds will impact or be impacted by the body, scientists can select the best candidates for further development. In vitro pharmacology’s examination of toxicity, ADME characteristics, and more, depends on a wide range of tests. For example, researchers test potential drugs against channels—such as the hERG channel—that are known to produce cardiotoxicity side-effects such as cardiac arrhythmias.

Running a series of automated tests for toxicity testing requires many liquid-handling steps. For samples up to 200 microliters, scientists can use our RapidPlate Liquid Handler with 96- and 384-well plates. However some tests can require larger volumes, and Caliper’s Sciclone i1000 Liquid Handling Workstation processes sample as large as 1,000 microliters

 

In some cases, companies seek integration or consulting services, and completely automated solutions such as Caliper’s Staccato Series, for in vitro studies.  Caliper offers custom configurations of equipment and products—from our Sciclone ALH 3000 liquid handler to our iLinkPro software—that meet a customer’s needs, from footprint and volume capabilities to analytical tools and throughput.

 

We also offer Contract Research screening services for in vitro studies of ADME and toxicity through the Caliper Discovery Alliances & Services (CDAS) division, built from the acquisition of NovaScreen Biosciences and Xenogen Biosciences. For example, caspase-3 is a protease that plays a major role in the early stages of apoptosis or programmed cell death. After its activation, caspase-3 is responsible for the breakdown of components involved in DNA regulation and repair. The evaluation of caspase-3 activity is an excellent indicator of toxicity effects mediated through apoptosis. CDAS offers the caspase-3 assay to measure a drugs effect on apoptosis in over 35 human derived cell lines.

 

Other CDAS assay services examine the effects of lead drug candidates effect on proliferation or viability of cells. We also offer a series of assays focused on drug metabolism, including Cytochrome P450, as well as the stability and half-life studies and assays targeting cardiotoxicity including hERG channel testing.

 

This comprehensive portfolio of products and services for in vitro pharmacology brings scientists complete and validated solutions. The Zephyr Workstation, for example, provides out-of-the-box procedures for automated protein-precipitation studies, which are often part of ADME testing. Calipers automation and scientific experts are ready to assist customers with integrating hundreds of third-party instruments into turnkey solutions. That combination gives Caliper customers freedom of choice combined with cutting-edge consultation and instrumentation.