Abstract
Amsbio
Alvetex Cell Culture Scaffold
According to AMSBIO, Alvetex provides a stable and inert scaffold for cells to grow, mimicking in vivo growth and formation of tissues in the body. Alvetex has a highly porous architecture specifically tailored for 3D cell culture and designed to be compatible with existing cell culture techniques and post cell culture analysis. Alvetex enables the formation of complex 3D cellular structures, increases viability, decreases cell death, and enhances cell function. Alvetex is available in different formats for short- and long-term cell culturing. Alvetex allows cells to be visualized by confocal or live-cell imaging or treated like tissue. Viable cells can also be isolated by Alvetex for passaging or flow cytometry.
Directed In Vivo Angiogenesis Assay (DIVAA) Kits
According to AMSBIO, these new kits address the shortcomings of the traditional plug assay by controlling the site for angiogenesis, increasing reproducibility, conserving test compounds, and supplying more statistical data for quantitative analysis. This range of kits is designed to test for activation, inhibition, and tube formation. The DIVAA is the first in vivo system for the study of angiogenesis that provides quantitative and reproducible results. It provides implant-grade silicone cylinders closed at one end, called angioreactors. The angioreactors are filled with 20 µL of AMSBIO’s Basement Membrane Extract (BME) premixed with or without angiogenesis modulating factors. These angioreactors are then implanted subcutaneously in the dorsal flanks of nude mice. With the onset of angiogenesis, cellular vascularization proceeds to invade the angioreactor, and as early as 9 days postimplantation, there are enough cells to determine an effective dose response to angiogenic modulating factors. The sleek design of the patented angioreactor optimizes sensitivity and allows for up to four units per mouse for a more controlled experiment and decreasing the number of mice required for a study.
Tumor cells can be implanted into the angioreactor to study their angiogenic effects in an in vivo system. AMSBIO’s DIVAA Kit is provided with FITC-Lectin for fluorescent quantitative analysis. Optional protocols are available for analysis with Calcein-AM and Dextran-FITC.
More: www.amsbio.com/in-vivo-Angiogenesis-Assay-kits-DIVAA.aspx
Definiens
Quantitative Digital Pathology Portfolio
Designed to advance translational research in pathology, specifically in biomarker development, this new portfolio offers updated versions of Definiens Tissue Studio, Definiens Developer XD, and the introduction of a novel component, Definiens Image Miner. According to Definiens, the technology in this product suite provides high accuracy in automatically identifying relevant structures of interest and specific morphology in histology, resulting in a detailed phenotypic fingerprint and biomarker expression profile on a cell-by-cell basis. The large set of descriptors can be correlated against therapy response or patient outcome with the goal of identifying new types of biomarkers of predictive or prognostic value.
The new Definiens Image Miner 1 integrates data mining with image analysis to accelerate biomarker research. The data-mining functionality is based on the same Cognition Network Technology used in Definiens’s image analysis solutions. Definiens Image Miner 1 provides productivity increase when profiling tissue probes for clinically or diagnostically relevant differences in morphology or biomarker expression. Development and quality control are supported by links between data points and the visual inspections of associated regions in the tissue.
Definiens Developer XD 2 is designed for automated image analysis that addresses a range of functions in biomedical image analysis with depth and accuracy. Developer XD 2 is considered ideal for advanced or customized analysis tasks of digital tissue slides. This updated version now addresses very large data-processing and machine-learning functionality.
Definiens Tissue Studio 3 conducts image analysis for quantitative digital pathology. It combines highly detailed quantification of tissue specimen with a straightforward and fast out-of-the-box configuration workflow. New features include an improved detection of regions of interest, classification of nuclear morphology, and an angiogenesis module.
Framos
Visiosens VFU Camera Platform
According to FRAMOS, this new VF camera series is a highly flexible and customizable image capture platform with more than 200 camera variants per image sensor. The Visiosens platform comprises a growing number of CCD and CMOS image sensors ranging from 0.3 to 10.0 MP; a variety of output interfaces, including USB2.0 and USB3.0 (through a Mini-B USB jack with horizontal screw lock); complementary assembly concepts; mounts; and filters. For all variants, the user and system interface is built on a unified, future-proof, cross-platform software development kit based on the latest.NET technology and compatible with Windows and Linux.
The camera housing is designed for industrial systems as well as for microscopy. It offers multiple mounting options on each side and the front face, which are all symmetrical to the optical axis of the sensor. C−, CS−, or M12-mounts are available for all models. An optional LED ring with seven color options is integrated in the housing and connected to the eight-pin I/O port with three IN and three OUT ports.
More: www.framos-imaging.com/visiosens_usb_vfu_series.html?&L=1
GE Healthcare
IN Cell Analyzer Compliance Manager
IN Cell Analyzer Compliance Manager is a software module for the IN Cell Analyzer 2000 that brings both operating and analysis software to a 21 CFR Part 11–compliant standard. Developed to facilitate compliance with regulatory expectations worldwide, the IN Cell Analyzer Compliance Manager is the first 21 CFR Part 11–compliant software from GE Healthcare for high-content analysis and delivers required functionality such as role-based user authorization levels to set access rights, published procedures for operational control that lock run and evaluation settings together, audit trails to record modifications and maintain histories on procedures, and data integrity and Certificate of Audit. GxP instrument validation services are also available using a risk-based validation approach.
Navitar and Carl Zeiss MicroImaging
Hoffman Modulation Contrast Technology
Navitar announced a new licensing agreement with Carl Zeiss MicroImaging. Under the terms of the contract, Carl Zeiss will license Navitar’s Hoffman Modulation Contrast (HMC) trademark for use in its iHMC product line. Zeiss will manufacture objectives, modulators, slit apertures, and condensers using the HMC technology and distribute and sell them under the iHMC name. Hoffman Modulation Contrast technology, originally developed and patented by Dr. Robert Hoffman, is a light microscopy contrast method for viewing colorless and transparent biological specimens. Navitar became the sole owner of the HMC trademark when it acquired the assets of Modulation Optics. Prior to the acquisition by Navitar, Modulation Optics partnered with Research Instruments Limited (RI) to combine the imaging of capabilities of HMC technology with RI’s instruments for intracytoplasmic morphologically selected sperm injection (IMSI) in the development of the optics for RI IMSI.
More: www.navitar.com or www.zeiss.com or www.modularoptics.com
TAP Biosystems
CompacT SC Automated T-Flask Cell Culture System
According to TAP, its new CompacT SC can be used to aseptically culture multiple different stem cell lines in parallel using T75 and T175 flasks and has a number of features that make controlling the growth and differentiation of stem cells easy. The system includes automated cell imaging and analysis that allows the CompacT SC to be programmed to monitor cell morphology and growth curves. It also permits the system to be set up to respond to any preprogrammed changes by automatically passaging cells and adding new media, reagents, or vectors at appropriate times. This means it can maintain cell lines in the state needed, either as pluripotent cells or during cell differentiation and transfection. Processes can be performed at any time of the day or night, without users having to be in the laboratory.
The CompacT SC also comes with a Low Volume Reagent Dispensing Option and an Incubator Oxygen Control Option to enable optimal conditions for stem cells by automatically setting the system to pipette chilled growth factors or transfection reagents at low volumes, as well as provide reduced oxygen levels to mimic in tissue conditions.
More: www.tapbiosystems.com
TTP LabTech
Acumen eX3 Microplate Imaging System
With the addition of a new 561-nm laser, it is now possible to perform additional high-throughput cell-based assays with the Acumen eX3 high-content microplate imaging system. This new addition enables the use of a new range of dyes to increase multiplexing capabilities. This platform collects and analyzes more than 40 images per second, at a resolution equivalent to a 20× objective lens. Because it can rapidly scan the entire well area, the Acumen eX3 has been used for the analysis of colony-forming units from bone marrow and stem cell cultures and neutrophil adhesion assays. According to TTP LabTech, the Acumen eX3 is the only high- content cell-based screening system capable of performing simultaneous screening and data analysis, providing read times from as fast as 6 min for 24- to 3456-well plates.
More: www.ttplabtech.com
About the JBS Product Focus Column
E-mail news releases for consideration to