Support and method for cell based assays

Abstract

Disclosed is a method for the measurement of a cellular process, or for the measurement of the effect of a test compound on a cellular process, in one or more different populations of cells. The method comprises providing separate samples of one or more different populations of cells adhering to support particles, the support particles comprising a scintillant substance and being adapted for cell growth. In one embodiment, different samples of cells are introduced into separate reaction vessels in a fluid medium, together with a reagent labelled with a radioisotope, in the presence or the absence of the test compound, under conditions so as to cause a portion of said radiolabelled reagent to become associated with the cells. In another embodiment, multiparameter analysis may be performed to determine the effect of a test compound on a cellular process using two or more different cell populations present in the same well. Measurement of the cellular process, or the effect of a test compound on a cellular process may be made by detecting light emission from the scintillant particles caused by radioactive decay of the radioisotope.

1 . (canceled)  
   
   
       2 . A method for the measurement of the effect of a test compound on a cellular process in one or more different populations of cells, the method comprising: 
 i) providing one or more different populations of cells adhering to support particles said support particles including a scintillant substance and being adapted for cell growth;    ii) introducing samples of each of said populations of cells, adhering to said support particles, contained in a fluid medium into separate reaction vessels for each population sampled;    iii) introducing into each reaction vessel a sample of a test compound whose effect on said cellular process is to be measured;    iv) introducing into each reaction vessel a reagent labelled with a radioisotope under conditions so as to cause a portion of said radiolabelled reagent to become associated with said cells; and    v) detecting light emission from the scintillant particles caused by radioactive decay of the radioisotope as a means of measuring the effect of the test compound on said cellular process.    
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the measurement of step v) is compared with a measurement of a cellular process in one or more different populations of cells in the absence of the test compound.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 2  wherein each of the cell samples is treated with different concentrations of said test compound in the presence of a fixed quantity of said radiolabelled reagent.  
   
   
       5 - 13 . (canceled)  
   
   
       14 . A solid support for cell based assays said support comprising particles including a matrix, and having a scintillant substance which has been coated onto, or integrated into, the matrix of the particles, and being adapted for cell growth.  
   
   
       15 . The solid support of  claim 14  wherein said particles comprise polymeric beads.  
   
   
       16 . The solid support of  claim 15  wherein said beads have a porous or macro-porous structure.  
   
   
       17 . The solid support of  claim 14  wherein said particles comprise a cross-linked dextran.  
   
   
       18 . The solid support of  claim 14  wherein said particles are in the form of a bead having a diameter in the range from 1 μm to 500 μm, and more preferably in the range from 50 μm to 250 μm.  
   
   
       19 . The solid support of  claim 14  wherein said scintillant substance is an inorganic scintillant preferably yttrium silicate (YSi) or yttrium oxide (YOx).  
   
   
       20 . The solid support of  claim 14 , wherein said particles are in the form of a bead having a diameter in the range from 50 μm to 250 μm.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein each different cell population is cultured separately on a different support particle each particle type having a different scintillant substance bound to or integrated in to the matrix of the particle.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said vessel is a well of a multiwell plate.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said detection step is performed in the presence of radiolabelled reagent both associated with said cells and in the fluid medium.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said detection step is performed by scintillation counting.  
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said detection step is performed by imaging.  
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said cellular process is selected from biosynthesis, uptake, transport, receptor binding, metabolism, fusion, biochemical response, growth and death.  
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the radioisotope is selected from  14 C,  3 H,  35 S,  33 P,  125 I,  32 P,  45 Ca,  55 Fe,  51 Cr,  86 Rb and  109 Cd.  
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein measurement of said cellular process is performed in real time using a non-invasive technique.