The Bionas technology for anticancer drug screening

Abstract

Background: The Bionas 2500^® analyzing system is an advanced label-free technology using a cell-based multi-sensor array, which is commercially available. Data on metabolism, respiration, adhesion, cell proliferation and cell death rates, as well as ligand–receptor interactions (multi-parametric) can be acquired and statistically evaluated. Noteworthy is the possibility of analyzing later after effects and/or recovery after drug treatment. In addition, Bionas supports all conceivable drug application modes (one, two or more drugs). Specimens for drug screening with Bionas consist of human permanent cell lines, primary cell cultures as well as ‘tumor slices’ obtained from biopsies and surgery material. Objective/methods: Examples of measurements are presented and discussed. Conclusion: Although drug throughput is modest, the high quality of the information allows in-depth evaluation.

Keywords::

• cancer cells
• cell adhesion
• cell metabolism
• cell respiration
• cell sensor
• cytotoxicity
• label-free assay
• tumor slices

Acknowledgements

The authors are indebted to A Schofer, B Leis, N Pütz, G Kiefer, A Soether and E Wendel of the Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology of the University of Saarland for collaboration and support.

Declaration of interest

This review is related to scientific research carried out in Prof. Mestres' laboratory at the University of Saarland from 1998 to March 2008. The studies were funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF Berlin, 1999–2005) and the University of Saarland (1998–2008). In addition, Lilly Deutschland GmbH financially supported the work in 2006 – 2008 and the Saar Union Savings Bank provided a grant in 2005.

Bionas GmbH provided three Bionas devices from October 2005 to March 2008 and Molecular Devices Germany supplied the authors with one cytosensor in 2000. This review does not constitute a source of conflict with any of the institutions and companies mentioned above. The studies with tumor material from patients were authorized by the Commission for Medical Ethics of the Arztekammer des Saarlandes.