Implementation and Challenges of Direct Acoustic Dosing into Cell-Based Assays

Since the adoption of Labcyte Echo Acoustic Droplet Ejection (ADE) technology by AstraZeneca in 2005, ADE has become the preferred method for compound dosing into both biochemical and cell-based assays across AstraZeneca research and development globally. The initial implementation of Echos and the direct dosing workflow provided AstraZeneca with a unique set of challenges. In this article, we outline how direct Echo dosing has evolved over the past decade in AstraZeneca. We describe the practical challenges of applying ADE technology to 96-well, 384-well, and 1536-well assays and how AstraZeneca developed and applied software and robotic solutions to generate fully automated and effective cell-based assay workflows.

Cellular Assay Optimization

This study investigated the use of large-scale transiently transfected cryopreserved cells for medium-throughput cellular screening. The data generated indicated that preprepared transiently transfected cryobanks can be used for cell-based assays and in fact can greatly enhance the consistency of data generated by cellular screens. In addition to this, a generic enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method was designed that introduced a c-Myc tag to four different targets and allowed all four cell assays to be run using a standardized process. These process improvements yielded cost savings and greatly reduced the required resource, as well as reducing timelines for developing cellular assays.