The Swiss Army Knife of Ligand Binding Assays
The Swiss Army Knife is the perfect combination of form and function, found in countless pockets, purses and bag packs simply because of its countless uses. Scientists rely on analytical tools every day to make pivotal decisions throughout the drug development and manufacturing process. While many biophysical analytical tools are suited for detecting structural changes, few can assess structure-dependent function in the same system.
This article is posted on our Science Snippets Blog
Bottlenecks in Routine Workflows
Measuring the interaction kinetics of therapeutic lead candidates and their molecular targets is a key part of drug development workflows. Scientists need to answer questions about affinity, specificity and other critical quality attributes (CQAs) on a routine basis in order to qualify candidates for the next step of the process.
To increase the chance of success in today’s competitive landscape, pharmaceutical and biotech companies are under pressure to increase productivity and shorten timelines. However, ligand binding studies typically involve multiple methods and lengthy protocols, which can be time consuming and expensive.
Fluorescence-based assays, for example, require extra time for sample preparation and assay optimization steps. Labels also pose their own risks, as they can physically interfere with the interaction or the activity in question. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is a widely used end-point assay that only reports on steady-state binding affinities and cannot capture on and off rates. Data on weak interactions may also be lost with the multiple washing steps in an ELISA. Label-free monitoring in real time provides a faster and more complete picture of dynamic interactions and helps scientists make data-driven decisions.
Position Your Lab for Success
When scientists talk about studying molecular interactions, the Octet® Bio-Layer Interferometry (BLI) platform often comes up.
BLI instruments stand out as a versatile, high-throughput solution for label-free analysis in real time. Not only is it easier to set up and run an assay compared to other analytical systems, but you can also collect a wide range of information about affinity, kinetics, concentration, bio-similarity, specificity, potency and selectivity of molecular binding. You’re also not limited to antibodies and recombinant proteins, and are free to analyze binding interactions involving nucleic acids or high-molecular weight analytes like viruses, nanoparticles and liposomes.
It’s like having the Swiss Army Knife of ligand binding studies in the lab!
Biopharmaceutical companies using the Octet® RH96 system can quickly screen a 384-well plate of biosimilars for functional equivalence to their biologic counterparts, or a plate of antibody-based drugs for off-rate ranking.
Finally, a Hassle-Free Instrument
BLI technology is free of many of the hassles usually associated with techniques for measuring binding kinetics. Since BLI technology is label-free with real-time data collection, you can measure equilibrium dissociation constants (KD) and association/dissociation rate constants (ka and kd) without bulky labels in the way, providing a complete picture of dynamic interactions.
The technology is also fluidic-free, so it can handle a variety of crude samples without the risk of clogging. Scientists screening hybridoma and phage display libraries no longer need to purify samples before analysis. In general, the Octet® BLI instruments are fuss-free and very low-maintenance, allowing labs to be maximally productive.
The Proof is in Faster Progress
The Octet® BLI platform has proven itself time and time again as a precise, multi-application analytical tool for real-time biomolecular interaction analysis in every stage of drug development, from early screening to clinical evaluation and GMP manufacturing.
This label-free, fluidic-free technology helps overcome many of the challenges that have bogged down analytical workflows in the industry for decades and shortens the time it takes to identify leads with the highest chance of success.
The instruments are already a staple in many laboratories supporting research applications in biologics and small molecule drug development, COVID-19, lead selection and optimization, target ID and validation and GxP applications. Once labs get used to having a Swiss Army Knife, it’s hard to go back to anything less.
If you enjoyed this post, please share it with your friends and colleagues. Be sure to read our previous post about the benefits of real-time monitoring: Catch the Play-by-Play of Biomolecular Interactions and our next post “An Antibody Cocktail Fit for Omicron” exploring the approach of an antibody mix targeting diverse epitopes to neutralize SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern.