IncuCyte is decsribed as a first-of-its-kind system that allows kinetic, non-invasive imaging of cells in culture right inside the well-controlled incubator environment
The IncuCyte system is only 200mm high and fits on a single shelf inside most standard user-supplied CO2 incubators.
Imaging is automated and performed around-the-clock, thus requiring no human intervention.
This non-invasive approach allows researchers to capture all valuable kinetic cellular information which otherwise would be lost with standard end-point assays.
Applications for the IncuCyte technology are several.
IncuCyte can be used for cell-based assay optimisation and quality control as it generates non-invasive kinetic growth curves (derived from the imagery) which can detect changes in culture caused by substrate variation, media formulation, serum concentration, cell passage etc...
As an example, Essen says it has used the platform to optimise serum concentration for a given cell-based assay and have shown that certain cell types actually prefer lower serum concentrations.
Such data can have significant cost saving implications for an HTS campaign.
Since IncuCyte provides a consistent and non-invasive metric of cell culture day to day, this information can also be used to optimise conditions for a functional assay.
As an example, IncuCyte has been used at Essen to optimise the functional expression of its hERG ion channel assay utilising its high-throughput IonWorks electrophysiology system.
Once optimised, this information can be used to insure that cells for harvest and cells for passage are maintained at optimum growth cycles particular to that assay.
Aside from monitoring and optimising culture conditions, IncuCyte can also be used as an assay, providing non-invasive, kinetic readout for live-cell proliferation and or toxicology assays where typically only invasive, end-point measurements are made.
Live cell assays, which take hours to days, are ideal candidates for IncuCyte says the company.
Essen is developing a host of applications to take advantage of this capability especially in the areas of cell motility assays.
The system is web-based allowing users to log into their 'virtual incubator' from anywhere in the world and keep electronic records of culture variability over time (images and growth curves) with no additional labor resource.
Since the system is network driven, sharing of information becomes very efficient when working with colleagues or collaborators.
Multiple users can be logged into IncuCyte and various levels of security for viewing information can be designated.
No more running to the incubator to check cells - IncuCyte allows this to be done from the comfort of the office, or even from home.
