The Vision Plate 384 has been designed for high content screening (HCS) assays in drug development and related areas. This high quality optical bottom plate assures the necessary accuracy and consistency for automated high throughput systems, generating optimum signal to noise ratios. By employing state-of-the-art manufacturing technology 4titude® have developed a product which offers several key advantages to the end user.
New patented plate assembly technology
4titude’s Vision Plates 384 are assembled by
using novel patented laser welding technology. In contrast,
most competitors’ clear bottom microplates are
assembled by either glueing a clear film to the frame
portion of the plate or by heat welding the components
together. Both techniques may cause problems with regards
to cell growth and the subsequent microscopic or fluorometric
analysis.
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Heat welding of
the two plate components under high pressure
(e.g. in ultrasonic welding) typically causes
overheating of the polymers and results in
autofluorescence at the well edges (“halo
effect”). |
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Autofluorescence can also be observed in
plates where the two components are glued together,
caused by organic solvents used within the
adhesives. |
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The same solvents have also been shown
to have cytotoxic effects. This may lead to
the inhibition of cell growth or even cell
death. |
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Incomplete glue lines or weld lines often
result in well to well leakage. |
| Close-up
of a well section of the Vision Plate 384. The
image clearly shows the consistent and ripple-free
bonding of the two plate components. |
|
Close-up
of a well section of a competitor’s plate.
Areas of the plate can be identified where no
adhesive is present, leaving sections of the
optical base unbonded and liable to cross contamination. |
| Close-up
of a well section of a competitor’s plate.
Areas can be identified where adhesive has ingressed
into the plate wells. This may result in autofluorescence
and cell death. |
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Cell adhesion
Polymers such as polystyrene are very hydrophobic
and need to be surface treated to increase wettability
and to allow for cell adhesion. To introduce the
necessary charges to the plastic surface screening
plates are commonly undergoing corona treatment
or similar low cost modifications. The drawbacks
of such treatments are that they are partly reversible
and that the density of the charges varies across
the surface area, resulting in uneven cell growth
and a short shelf life of the products.
4titude uses a novel low pressure plasma process
for treating the plastic surface which produces a
more consistent and stable surface. The treatment
has been especially designed to improve cell adhesion
under difficult conditions (e.g. reduced serum conditions).
It is also useful for growing cells with low adhesion
properties such as transfected cells overexpressing
proteins.
Light microscope image of 3
different cell lines in the 4titude Vision Plate 384
(top) and a competitor’s
384 well screening plate (bottom). Left: U2-OS (osteosarcoma),
middle: HeLa (cervical epitheloid carcinoma), right:
HuH (hepatoblastoma). 2000 cells were seeded in each
well and incubated for 48 hours to achieve 90% confluency.
They were then fixed in PFA and stained with Hoechst
nuclear stain, followed by 5 wash steps in a PW384.
U2-OS cells stayed adherent in both plates but the
more sensitive HeLa and HuH cells only stayed adherent
in all areas of the 4titude plate.
Optical quality of the polymer film
The clear bottom component of our Vision Plate 384
demonstrates superior properties in terms of optical
clarity (low absorbance and high transmission),
low background fluorescence and consistency of
material thickness.
The latest extrusion technology is used for manufacturing
an ultraclear base of 175 microns in thickness to
provide optimum results with confocal microscopy
and laser based detection systems.
Variation across the plate is minimised so that
the time needed for complex screening applications
can be reduced dramatically.
| The
figure shows the intensity of autofluorescence
of 4titude’s Vison Plate 384 compared to
leading brand competitors. |
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Ordering Information
Code
4ti-0201 |
Description
Vision Plate 384, black, sterile, TC treated |
Quantity
24 plates with lids |
| 4ti-0202 |
Vision Plate 384, black, sterile, TC treated |
30 plates |
| 4ti-0203 |
Vision Plate 384, black, sterile |
30 plates |
| 4ti-0204 |
Vision Plate 384, black, non-sterile, untreated |
30 plates |
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