Bruker Enables High-Throughput Multiplex HTS on Sierra SPR Platform

Sierra Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) Pro Series for High-Throughput Screening (HTS)

• Innovative Sierra SPR-32 Pro allowing multiplex HTS for insights into kinetics with no compromise in sensitivity and nature of samples
• SPR insights into molecular interactions by label-free HTS in support of drug discovery

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--At the SLAS2022 International Conference and Exhibition, Bruker Corporation (Nasdaq: BRKR) is announcing a multiplexed assay taking high-throughput screening with SPR to the next level. The innovative microfluidic system of the Bruker Sierra SPR-32 Pro provides a unique 8x4 array for parallel readout of 32 measurement sensor spots per injection at exceptional robustness. This configuration offers high throughput while maintaining flexibility for the development of both, biologics and small molecule drug candidates, e.g., for testing one antigen against 31 antibodies, to 8 small molecules against 3 target proteins with a single reference per channel.

Bruker impressively demonstrated the multiplexing capabilities of the Sierra SPR-32 Pro platform with a selectivity assay, typical for lead development stages, and a screening assay against a set of carbonic anhydrases, a protein family with a high degree of similarity. These challenging examples typically require tedious repetitions of the same assay for each target protein, slowing down the drug development process. The multiplexing capabilities of the Sierra SPR-32 Pro reduces measurement time by up to threefold. Bruker’s highly sensitive SPR detection enables measurements at high molecular weight differences between analyte and target of 10^-3, supporting even fragment-based drug design.

Moreover, Bruker has developed automated 24/7 SPR plate-handling operation, or by its automation interface for SPR integration in HTS, which works with common scheduling software from various vendors. Bruker’s SPR software features seamless transfer of data and results to downstream analysis software, e.g., to Genedata Screener®.

A collaboration between Novartis Institute of Biomedical Research (Basel, CH), Genedata (Basel, CH) and Bruker is described in the application note ‘Tackling Challenging Targets with High-Throughput Biophysical Screening at Novartis’. With a total experimental time of 5 days, more than 10,000 compounds were characterized against one target protein and two of its disease relevant mutants. The seamless data transfer from Bruker’s SPR software to Genedata Screener® reduced data analysis to 2.5 hours.

Dr. Christine Genick, Lab Head of the Protein Sciences Group at the Novartis Institute of Biomedical Research in Basel, stated: “This was a truly collaborative effort, in which Genedata and Bruker really stepped up and enabled us to push the limits of SPR. By setting up robust automation and a comprehensive processing pipeline, we were able to screen and analyze our data with lightning speed.”

Dr. Meike Hamester, Bruker Director of BioPharma Label-free Technologies, summarized: “The Bruker SPR systems provide indispensable, information-rich data for the lead development processes at highest throughput and data quality, enabled by our parallel readout, a unique high sensitivity SPR detections system, all combined with state-of-the-art automation.”

About Bruker Corporation (Nasdaq: BRKR)

Bruker is enabling scientists to make breakthrough discoveries and develop new applications that improve the quality of human life. Bruker’s high performance scientific instruments and high value analytical and diagnostic solutions enable scientists to explore life and materials at molecular, cellular and microscopic levels. In close cooperation with our customers, Bruker is enabling innovation, improved productivity and customer success in life science molecular and cell biology research, in applied and pharma applications, in microscopy and nanoanalysis, as well as in industrial applications. Bruker offers differentiated, high-value life science and diagnostics systems and solutions in preclinical imaging, clinical phenomics research, proteomics and multiomics, spatial and single-cell biology, functional structural and condensate biology, as well as in clinical microbiology and molecular diagnostics. For more information, please visit: www.bruker.com.