Technologies

We are developing stem cell based technologies to characterise cells and test efficacy & toxicity effects of drug candidates on species relevant and highly desired cell types. Our technologies can be customised to meet your exact requirements, and can be either carried out at StemCell Services or transferred to the client depending on the system:

  • Neuronal Stem Cells For Drug Screening

    • We have derived neuronal stem cells from embryonic cells, which can be used as a tool for CNS drug discovery. These have been used to build a stem cell based screening system that can identify drugs for development for neurodegenerative diseases. For further information, please enquire .

  • Gene Expression Arrays

    • Enable a rapid qualitative & quantitative measure of the changes occurring in core gene expression levels.
    • We have an established microarray facility staffed and operated by molecular biologists with extensive experience of designing, operating and analysing microarray experiments.

  • Real Time RT-PCR

    • We can provide an accurate measure of the levels of expression of the gene(s) of interest by real time RT-PCR. This will allow us to rapidly quantify the initial amount of the template, and hence the level of expression of the gene(s) of interest in each of the individual patient samples.

  • Laser Dissection Microscopy (LDM)

    • Our LDM facilities enable us to accurately dissect tissue samples into separate cell types. This allows us to determine spatial information on the precise expression pattern of key target proteins in different cell types within tissues.

  • Multiplex Protein Arrays

    • Using a panel of antibodies, this system can be used to determine the levels and phosphorylation status of multiple components of the relevant signal transduction cascades.

  • Immunohistochemistry & in situ Hybridisation

    • Identification of sub-cellular distribution of targets within stem cells or tissue-derived progenitor cells.

  • Confocal Microscopy

    • We can use fluorescence-based methods to track the fate of target genes. We can also perform intracellular localisation, trafficking and degradation studies.

  • Reverse Luciferase Reporter Assay

    • Our proprietary Reverse Luciferase Assay relies on an increase in the activity of luciferase to identify inhibitor compounds. This screen will be resistant to false positives, thus reducing the time involved in drug development.

  • Toxicity Screen

    • Using human embryonic-derived hepatocytes and adult tissue-derived hepatocytes, we will transfect a number of reporter genes which will allow simultaneous measurement of oxidative stress / inflammation / apoptosis etc., after treatment with drug candidates. This screen will overcome costly and labour intensive studies involving in vivo models.

  • Electrophysiology

    • We offer patch clamping in native cells, including embryonic-derived neuronal cells, and cardiac myocytes. These cell lines can be functionally validated using patch clamping to study the individual ion channels in cells. Ion channel blockers and activators can be investigated and IC50 determined.

  • Fluorescence-based FLEXStation III

    • For high throughput screening we offer ion channel assays in 96 and 384 plate formats using membrane-sensing dyes on our FlexStation.

These technologies are being developed to derive a range of embryonic and adult stem cell lines including: cardiomyocytes, hepatocytes and neurons to mention just a few. Once we have successfully derived these cells, they will be available for purchasing, or to be used as a service for e.g. compound screening, toxicity testing, media and supplement testing.