New High Throughput Anti-Tumor Drug Screening System

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This SBIR project is focused to develop, validate and commercialize an advanced high-throughput anti- tumor drug screening platform (HTS) which employs a new 3D HuBioGEM assay technology. Preclinical drug screening is commonly performed using biochemical and cell-based assay systems. In recent years, more relevant 3D spheroid models have been developed using microcarrier, pHEMA- coating, gel-layer and hanging-drop techniques. Although useful, these require difficult culture protocols, provide undesirable endpoints and/or are not efficient for automated applications. We have created a novel HuBioGEM culture system by formulating patented HuBiogel (human biomatrix) with unique paramagnetic particles (GEM). Employing 3D magnetic-biogel and 384-array culture strategies, we propose to develop a robust human microtumor assay platform for drug efficacy profiling. Phase I technical goals are: i) Establish 3D tumor production, culture and analysis protocols using HuBioGEM, NCI