PRODUCT INFORMATION
ICR 8100- Primary Drug Screening Technology
Aurora Biomed’s Ion Channel Readers (ICR) combine the versatility, precision, and sensitivity of atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) with our patented microsampling process and liquid handling technologies, creating a high-throughput screening solution for ion channel researchers that fills gaps, which automated patch-clamp cannot. The ICR 8100 is a more affordable, mid-throughput ion channel screening system that is compact enough for the benchtop while retaining broad utility.
The ICR 8100 can be used to assess both voltage-gated (hERG, BK/SK, Kv1.1, 1.4, 1.5, KCNQ, 2P, etc.) and ligand-gated (KATP, nAChR, etc.) ion channels, as well as ion pumps and transporters (e.g., Na+/K+-ATPase), allowing researchers to accelerate drug development for the treatment and prevention of diseases associated with these key membrane transport proteins.
Current applications include the evaluation of the Cation-Chloride Cotransporter (CCC), a critical component of neuronal chloride homeostasis that is an essential regulator of cell volume and neuronal excitability. Because CCCs are electroneutral, their activity cannot be measured using automated patch-clamp techniques. The ICR 8100 is able to obtain high throughput activity measurements for these and other channels and transporters by measuring the absolute concentrations of cytosolic and extracellular ions, a technique that is independent of, and complimentary to, methods that rely on voltage manipulation.
Ion Channel Reader 8100
- Programmable and automated solution for up to 5000 wells/day
- Automatic dilution, calibration and cleaning
- Adaptable to existing robotic automation
- Sample dilution not required
- High sensitivity
- On-line dilution
- Eliminates quenching effects associated with fluorescence
- Removes need to work with hazardous radioisotopes
- Avoids work restrictions posed by Rb’s short half-life
- Ideal for hERG channel assays
- Can assess both electrogenic and electroneutral transporters
- Medium Throughput: Up to 5000 wells/day
- Single Channel: Measures 1 sample at a time
- Minimum sample volume: 50 µl
- Accommodation: 96/384-well microplates
- Footprint: H.67 cm X W.55 cm X D.37 cm
- Fuel Source: Acetylene / Compressed Air
- Options: Plate Stacker / Barcode Reader
- Sensitivity: 0.05 ppm detection limit
- Precision: < 5% CV
Li, Y.; Shang, Y.-S.; Li, X.; Zhang, Y.; Xie, J.; Chen, L.; Gao, F.; Zhou, X. European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry 2022, 243, 114776. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejmech.2022.114776.
Montalbano, A.; Sala, C.; Altadonna, G. C.; Becchetti, A.; Arcangeli, A. Heliyon 2023, 9 (10), e20112. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e20112.
Terstappen, G. C. In Label‐Free Technologies for Drug Discovery; 2011; pp 111–124. https://doi.org/10.1002/9780470979129.ch8.
Chaudhary, K. W.; O’Neal, J. M.; Mo, Z.; Fermini, B.; Gallavan, R. H.; Bahinski, A. Assay and Drug Development Technologies 2006, 4 (1), 73–82. https://doi.org/10.1089/adt.2006.4.73.
Trivedi, S.; Dekermendjian, K.; Julien, R.; Huang, J.; Lund, P.-E.; Krupp, J.; Kronqvist, R.; Larsson, O.; Bostwick, R. Assay and Drug Development Technologies 2008, 6 (2), 167–179. https://doi.org/10.1089/adt.2007.090.
Fallah, H. P.; Ahuja, E.; Lin, H.; Qi, J.; Qian, H.; Gao, S.; An, H.; Zhang, J.; Xie, Y.; Dong, L. Frontiers in Pharmacology 2022, 13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2022.914499.
Qi, J.; Wang, Y.; Liu, Y.; Zhang, F.; Guan, B.; Zhang, H. Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry 2014, 406 (6), 1713–1721. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-013-7550-5.
Luo, L.; Guan, X.; Begum, G.; Ding, D.; Gayden, J.; Hasan, N.; Fiesler, V. M.; Dodelson, J.; Kohanbash, G.; Hu, B.; Amankulor, N.; Jia, W.; Castro, M. G.; Sun, B.; Sun, D. Molecular Cancer Therapeutics 2020, 19 (7), 1550–1561. https://doi.org/10.1158/1535-7163.mct-19-0910.
For more publications on Aurora’s Ion Channel Reader, please visit ICR publications.
How does the non-radioactive flux assay compare to patch clamp?
The non-radioactive flux assay is considered a high throughput solution to investigate a broad range of membrane proteins including electro-neutral targets, to which conventional electrophysiology cannot be applied. The flux assay is capable of establishing the same drug potency rank orders as patch clamps.
What type of membrane protein targets can the ICR be applied to?
Membrane protein targets including voltage-gated and ligand-gated ion channels, co-transporters and pumps.
What is the general procedure of setting up flux assays?
Cells expressing the ion channels of interest go through a protocol of tracer loading, drug incubation, wash, treatment, and lysis before they are be fed into the ICR. The ICR can fully automate the sample analysis procedure.
What are the main differences between the ICR 8100 and ICR 12000?
The minimal sample loading volume is for 50 ul for the ICR 8100 and 20 ul for the ICR 12000. The ICR 12000 has a throughput of processing 60000 wells/day as compared to 5000 wells/day on the ICR 8100. The ICR 12000 also has an optional plate stacker.
What plate formats are compatible with the ICR?
Standard 96 and 384 well plates.
Who are some of the organizations using the ICR?
Our customers include Amgen, Merck, AstraZeneca, Roche, Pfizer, University of British Columbia, Heibei Medical University, and more.