High Throughput Screening (HTS) EpiAirway™ Configurations

Models AIR-124-HTS (24-wells) and
AIR-196-HTS (96-wells) Now Available

MatTek is pursuing a tissue-based, High Throughput Screening (HTS) solution involving the use of several of our normal human cell, three dimensional organotypic in vitro tissue models. This process began several years ago when MatTek first received funding via the NIH SBIR program for a Phase I and then a Phase II High Throughput Screening (HTS) research program.

The HTS tissue models derived from this program are finding application in product safety assessment and gene regulation studies for a broad variety of pharmaceutical, chemical, and consumer product companies who need to screen a large number of candidate materials. The models are also adaptable for other basic research involving modulation of gene messages in skin and airway epithelia.

The feasibility of producing high throughput screening (HTS) epidermal tissue models and testing methodologies was demonstrated in the completed Phase I studies. Epidermal tissues (EpiDerm™) were produced in both 24- and 96-well plate formats. Protocols and reagents for HTS assessment of tissue viability and isolation of RNA from these tissues were also developed. Various quantitative assays for monitoring gene specific mRNA levels were analyzed. Of the methods tested, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was found to be the most applicable for HTS testing.

Phase II research further developed the results of Phase I. Phase I testing protocols were optimized and the HTS technology was expanded to a three-dimensional organotypic tracheal bronchial tissue model (EpiAirway™).

Phase II goals included providing in vitro models of human epithelial tissues in 96-well and 24-well high-throughput screening (HTS) formats and developing associated methodologies to enable researchers in the pharmaceutical, chemical and personal care industries to utilize these tissues to rapidly screen chemicals, ingredients and finished products for effects on modulation of gene expression for any gene of interest. Attainment of these goals has provided important tools for eliminating bottlenecks in safety and efficacy screening, as well as aid discovery processes in modern industrial product development.

The HTS models developed in Phase II were derived from normal human cells cultured at the air/liquid interface to produce three-dimensional organotypic tissues. The epidermal model used during Phase I displayed a stratified differentiated structure, including a stratum corneum possessing barrier function similar to native epidermis.

In addition, Phase II studies expanded upon Phase I results to include HTS tracheal/bronchial epithelial (EpiAirway™) tissue (Model AIR-124-HTS, a 24-well version, and Model AIR-196-HTS, a 96-well version). This tissue is pseudo-stratified, displays a differentiated mucociliary phenotype and barrier properties similar to native tracheal/bronchial epithelium, including development of transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER), conferred by functional tight junctions.

Please contact MatTek to discuss your in vitro airway or skin tissue model high throughput screening (HTS) needs.