Sirius Analytical has launched an automated instrument for measurement of ionisation (pKa), lipophilicity (logP/D) and solubility (kinetic and intrinsic) using sub-milligram quantities of drug sample.
The SiriusT3 system is a hardware platform designed by Sirius to bring a level of automation and quality to these measurements.
The system is comprised of three separate hardware modules: Dispenser, Titrator and Autoloader.
SiriusT3 offers automation features such as automatic precision dispensing of all assay reagents, automated movement of experiment probes through buffer calibration positions and cleaning stations, built-in automatic turbidity sensing and a built-in ultrasonic bath for handling even the most insoluble drug-candid dates.
The system can be obtained in a range of configurations from low to high throughput, suiting the needs of both early-discovery screening departments and late-stage formulation groups.
The company claims that a clear and straightforward upgrade route allows throughput to be expanded as and when required.
The Autoloader module supports 192 assay positions and, in conjunction with Sirius's fast UV pKa method, it can screen compounds for pKas in just four minutes per assay, according to Sirius.
This allows for hundreds of measurements per day, with between 40 and 50 datapoints measured directly by a pH electrode and a multi-wavelength UV/vis spectroscopy system.
SiriusT3 assay setup and data analysis software features built-in optimised routines for handling challenging compounds.
Jon Mole, Sirius's technical sales manager, said: 'The launch of the SiriusT3 represents the culmination of over six years of intensive product development and customer research to deliver the next-generation system for pKa, logP/D and solubility by automated titration.' With a miniaturised platform, it is said that SiriusT3 can surpass the quality and automation of the GLpKa system while reducing sample consumption by up 90 per cent.
Sirius is a UK provider of instrumentation and analytical services to the pharmaceutical and biotech industry.
