This article and associated images are based on a poster originally authored by Sriram Kumaraswamy, Benjamin Osborn, Rich Wang and Indrani Chakraborty and presented at ELRIG Drug Discovery 2025 in affiliation with Gator Bio.
This poster is being hosted on this website in its raw form, without modifications. It has not undergone peer review but has been reviewed to meet AZoNetwork's editorial quality standards. The information contained is for informational purposes only and should not be considered validated by independent peer assessment.
Introduction
Label-free analytical platforms are essential tools in the development and manufacturing of biologics. They can provide rapid, high-throughput measurement of antibody titer and binding activity across cell line development (CLD), process development (PD), and quality control (QC) workflows.
Bio-layer interferometry (BLI) systems are widely utilized for their ability to generate real-time, label-free data directly from crude samples. Meanwhile, complementary technologies like ELISA, SPR, and HPLC continue to serve specialized roles in kinetic profiling and concentration/aggregation analysis, respectively.
To meet the growing demands of modern biologics workflows - including higher sample capacity, enhanced signal stability, greater probe versatility, and reduced total cost of ownership - Gator Bio’s next-generation BLI platform offers:
- Key innovations include an advanced optical coating with proprietary chemistry on sensor surfaces that minimizes non-specific binding.
- Expanded portfolio of advanced biosensors (e.g., Flex SA, anti-VHH, and Strep-Tactin XT) tailored for emerging drug modalities.
- User-centric software and hardware design that simplifies operation while maximizing throughput.
- The platform's dual-layer thermal control minimizes drift to maintain high signal stability, while user-driven design refinements ensure cost-effective operation and easier maintenance.
This poster highlights representative data and workflows demonstrating the platform’s performance in titer measurement and functional binding assays across the bioproduction continuum. Gator Bio's BLI technology enables scientists to make informed, critical decisions in both research and regulated environments with reliable, real-time analytics.
The Gator line-up
Source: ELRIG (UK) Ltd.
|
Gator Pilot® |
Gator Prime® |
Gator Plus® |
Gator Pivot® |
Gator Pro® |
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| # Channels |
4 |
8 |
8 |
16 |
32 |
| Usable plates |
½ x 96 (Samples)
½ x Max
(Probes only, no shaker) |
1x 96 (Samples)
1x Max (Probes) |
1x 96/384
1x Max |
2x 96/384
1x Max |
3x 96/384
1x Max |
| Automation Ready |
- |
- |
- |
Yes |
Yes |
| Self-cleaning |
- |
- |
- |
Yes |
Yes |
| 21 CFR Part 11 |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Probes for mAbs |
Applications (Q or K)* |
| Protein A (ProA) |
Q |
| Protein G (ProG) |
Q |
| Protein L (ProL) |
Q |
| Anti-human IgG Fc (HFC) |
Q & K |
Anti-human IgG Fc
Gen 2 (HFCII) |
Q & K |
| Anti-mouse IgG Fc (MFC) |
Q & K |
| Anti-human Fab (FAB) |
Q & K |
| Anti-VHH |
Q & K Screen |
| Anti-IgM |
Q & K |
| Anti-Rabbit IgG Fc |
K |
| Anti Rat IgG Fc |
K |
| Probes for Proteins and other Biomolecules |
Applications (Q or K)* |
| Ni-NTA (NTA) |
Q & K |
| Anti-HIS (HIS) |
Q & K |
| Anti-PEG |
Q & K |
| Strep-Tactin XT |
Q & K |
| Anti-Strep Tag II |
K |
| Anti-GST |
Q & K |
| Anti-FLAG |
Q & K |
| Streptavidin (SA) |
Q & K |
| Streptavidin XT (SA XT) |
K |
Small Molecule Analysis
Probe (SMAP) |
K |
| Flex SA Kit |
K |
| Amine Reactive (AR) |
K |
| Aminopropylsilane (APS) |
K |
| Probes for CGT |
Applications (Q or K)* |
| AAVX |
Q |
| AAV9 |
Q |
| High Sensitivity (HS) AAV Kit |
Q |
| High Sensitivity (HS) AAV9 Kit |
Q |
| AAV Full/Empty Capsid Ratio Kit |
Q |
| AdenoQuant |
Q |
| LentiQuant |
Q |
- BLI enables real-time, label-free detection of biomolecular interactions.
- Gator Bio sensors measure changes in optical thickness during the binding process.
- Proprietary probe chemistry minimizes non-specific binding.
- Sensor design delivers high signal-to-noise ratios.
- Works directly with crude samples, such as supernatants and lysates.
- Enables accurate analysis without the need for purification.
Gator® software
Image Credit: Image courtesy of Sriram Kumaraswamy et al., in partnership with ELRIG (UK) Ltd.
Image Credit: Image courtesy of Sriram Kumaraswamy et al., in partnership with ELRIG (UK) Ltd.
- Gator® software offers a fully integrated solution for assay setup, data analysis, and report generation.
- The user-friendly interface guides users through easy, step-by-step experimental setup and analysis.
- Flexible assay design supports quantitation, kinetics, and epitope binning for diverse applications.
- Gator® 21 CFR Part 11 Software supports compliance in GMP and GLP environments.
Application across biotherapeutic development
Cell line development
Rapid titer and functional binding from supernatant.
Rapid assay format delivers results within minutes.
Upstream bioprocessing
Low-cost titer measurement in crude samples.
Optimize media and culture conditions with high-throughput design of experiments (DOE).
Downstream bioprocessing
Determine the Dynamic Binding Capacity (DBC), confirm the titer, and assess both post-purification and during product stability studies.
QC & lot release
Reliably measure comparability and bioactivity in regulated environments.
Eliminate cumbersome SPR-based QC with easy-to-learn and use methods.
Performance for antibody quantitation
- Up to 32 capture ligand-coated sensors can be dipped simultaneously into samples in a microwell plate for 60-120 seconds.
- Analytes in solution bind to the ligands on the sensors, producing a real-time binding signal.
- Gator Bio software fits the binding curves to generate a Binding Rate vs. Concentration graph.
- Sensors can be regenerated automatically for reuse, reducing overall testing costs.
- A standard curve is generated from known samples and applied to determine the concentration of unknown samples.
Source: ELRIG (UK) Ltd.
Probe Surface
Chemistry |
Applications
(Q or K) |
Quantitation Dynamic
Range (μg/ml) |
Regeneration |
| Protein A (ProA) |
Q |
0.02-2000 |
Yes |
| Protein G (ProG) |
Q |
0.02-2000 |
Yes |
| Protein L (ProL) |
Q |
0.02-2000 |
Yes |
Anti-human IgG
Fc (HFC) |
Q & K |
0.05-300 |
Yes |
Anti-human IgG
Fc Gen 2 (HFCII) |
Q & K |
0.3-6000 |
Yes |
Anti-mouse IgG
Fc (MFC) |
Q & K |
0.02-2000 |
Yes |
| Anti-human Fab (FAB) |
Q & K |
0.3-3000 |
Yes |
| Anti-VHH |
Q & K Screen |
0.05-10 |
Yes |
| Anti-IgM |
Q & K |
0.4-300 |
No |
| Anti-Rabbit IgG Fc |
Q & K |
0.05-4000 |
No |
Image Credit: Image courtesy of Sriram Kumaraswamy et al., in partnership with ELRIG (UK) Ltd.
Accuracy and precision of Gator Bio IgG titer in comparison to the competitor
Image Credit: Image courtesy of Sriram Kumaraswamy et al., in partnership with ELRIG (UK) Ltd.
Source: ELRIG (UK) Ltd.
| Standard |
Gator %CV |
% Agreement |
Traditional BLI %CV |
% Agreement |
| 500 ug/ml |
1.6 % |
98.3 % |
2.4 % |
100.1 % |
| 250 ug/ml |
1.0 % |
103.9 % |
1.1 % |
99.8 % |
| 125 ug/ml |
0.5 % |
99.5 % |
0.6 % |
99.9 % |
| 80 ug/ml |
0.4 % |
89.8 % |
0.9 % |
94.8 % |
| 62.5 ug/ml |
0.6 % |
97.2 % |
1.0 % |
101.6 % |
| 50 ug/ml |
0.6 % |
90.4 % |
0.8 % |
90.6 % |
| 31.3 ug/ml |
0.8 % |
100.0 % |
1.1 % |
100.6 % |
| 20 ug/ml |
0.6 % |
96.2 % |
1.8 % |
90.8 % |
| 15.6 ug/ml |
0.6 % |
103.2 % |
1.4 % |
91.7 % |
| 7.81 ug/ml |
0.4 % |
98.0 % |
2.5 % |
83.9 % |
| 3.91 ug/ml |
0.5 % |
99.9 % |
2.1 % |
99.9 % |
| Average |
0.7 % |
97.9 % |
1.4 % |
95.8 % |
Image Credit: Image courtesy of Sriram Kumaraswamy et al., in partnership with ELRIG (UK) Ltd.
Source: ELRIG (UK) Ltd.
| Sample |
Gator |
Gator %CV |
Traditional BLI |
Traditional BLI %CV |
| Day 3 10x dilution |
75.3 |
0.5 % |
64.4 |
2.3 % |
| Day 4 10x dilution |
116.0 |
0.9 % |
100.5 |
1.8 % |
| Day 5 10x dilution |
187.0 |
0.5 % |
181.1 |
2.0 % |
| Day 5 20x dilution |
177.4 |
0.4 % |
153.0 |
1.3 % |
| Day 6 10x dilution |
290.7 |
0.9 % |
303.0 |
56.4 % |
| Day 6 20x dilution |
295.3 |
0.4 % |
456.1 |
36.6 % |
| Day 7 10x dilution |
472.7 |
3.2 % |
349.7 |
37.5 % |
| Day 7 20x dilution |
484.7 |
3.4 % |
585.2 |
59.8 % |
| Average |
|
1.3 % |
|
24.7 % |
Example of Gator binding kinetics analysis
- Supports flexible assay formats, including:
- Screening assays with different analytes in each well.
- Kinetic assays using a dilution series of the same analyte.
- Biosensor probes can often be regenerated and reused, depending on assay design and binding strength.
- Reuse of probes increases throughput and reduces consumable costs.
Image Credit: Image courtesy of Sriram Kumaraswamy et al., in partnership with ELRIG (UK) Ltd.
Conclusions
- High-throughput, label-free quantitation and binding analysis designed for cell line development, upstream process monitoring, and quality control.
- Real-time measurement from crude supernatants, eliminating sample preparation steps required by ELISA, HPLC, and traditional kinetics-based methods.
- Advanced probe surface chemistry minimizes non-specific binding and improves signal-to-noise ratio.
- Intuitive software interface simplifies assay setup, execution, and data interpretation.
- Delivers enhanced analytical performance and lower cost of ownership compared to established BLI platforms.
About Gator Bio
Gator Bio is a world-leading biosensor company headquartered in Palo Alto, CA. At Gator Bio, we provide researchers the tools and instrumentation to advance their research. From antibody engineering to small molecule drug discovery to basic research, Gator Bio can be used to bring meaning to the unknown. From the original inventors of label-free biolayer interferometry (BLI), Gator Bio provides the next generation of BLI technology.
About ELRIG (UK) Ltd.
The European Laboratory Research & Innovation Group (ELRIG) is a leading European not-for-profit organization that exists to provide outstanding scientific content to the life science community. The foundation of the organization is based on the use and application of automation, robotics, and instrumentation in life science laboratories, but over time, we have evolved to respond to the needs of biopharma by developing scientific programs that focus on cutting-edge research areas that have the potential to revolutionize drug discovery.
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Last Updated: Dec 12, 2025