SRU Biosystems extends product line with the introduction of BIND SCANNER

SRU Biosystems today announced the extension of its product line of label-free instrumentation and biosensors with the introduction of its BIND^® SCANNER for primary and stem cell applications. The BIND SCANNER is a first-of-its-kind, plate-based, label-free instrument capable of monitoring cellular responses at an individual cell resolution. Details of the advancements will be presented at the upcoming Society for Biomolecular Sciences (SBS) meeting in Phoenix, Arizona, April 11 - 15, 2010.

“We are extremely excited about the development of the BIND SCANNER as an innovative tool for cell biology”

"We are extremely excited about the development of the BIND SCANNER as an innovative tool for cell biology," said Richard Wagner, Ph.D., President and CEO. "Scientists have highlighted the need for a label-free system for use with low cell numbers such as primary and stem cell assays. The BIND SCANNER enables novel applications for monitoring individual cell responses, by using our highly sensitive BIND^® technology that detects subtle adhesion and morphological changes in real time. Using new biosensors developed for the SCANNER, the numbers of physiological cell responses that can be measured are almost limitless. We have applied the SCANNER to measure cell health, growth, movement, adhesion, death, cell signaling processes (GPCR, RTK), and ion channel responses. Further, we have developed proprietary chemotaxis assays without the use of transwells on the instrument using standard 384-well microplates."

Steven Shamah, Ph.D., Director of Cell Biology, added, "The BIND SCANNER has allowed us to observe cellular processes using the most difficult and challenging cell types, such as primary and stem cells. We have been using the system internally to monitor individual stem cell growth, adhesion, invasion, and differentiation profiles. It has been remarkable - we have observed embryonic stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes beat on the sensors, and we have watched stem cells differentiate over 21 days into osteoblasts that produce bone on the sensor. The BIND SCANNER represents a completely new way to help understand how these processes develop and how to manipulate them with drugs and other genetic tools, including RNAi reagents. We are looking forward to working with the scientific community with this instrument to help understand complex biological systems and discover new pharmaceutical modalities."

The BIND SCANNER is a highly versatile label-free instrument, with a compact design that allows it to be placed in a cell incubator to run assays at 37°C and high humidity. Using new, modified microplate-based photonic crystal biosensors (ranging from single wells to 1536-well microplates), the BIND SCANNER can locate and track individual live cells with user-controlled resolution (variable from 2 mm to 3.75 microns).The BIND SCANNER continuously monitors cell adhesion and morphological changes in real time, allowing assays to be run using small populations of cells, or even single cells. Further, the new BIND biosensor microplates are compatible with standard fixation and staining techniques, including fluorescence applications, allowing orthogonal information to be gathered by the user.

SRU Biosystems has developed the most comprehensive product line for label-free cell-based and biochemical applications, including advanced software tools, automation integration, and proprietary attachment coatings for cells and proteins. The BIND^® system supports the use of 8-, 16-, 96-, 384-, and 1536-well microplates using the Company's highly patented optical biosensor technology. SRU will host a press conference at the SBS 16^th Annual Conference at 4:00 PM on April 12, 2010 in Room 222C of Phoenix Convention Center's North Building.