The life science group Sartorius has launched its Octet R series of systems, the latest in its line of label-free analytical products. With three different models to choose from, users can balance their throughput needs and budget, although the Octet R2 and R4 can be upgraded to an R4 or R8 respectively, within a single service visit to achieve higher throughput. All three systems accommodate a range of applications and sample types in the biologics development workflow.
The Octet R series leverages the company's proprietary bio-layer interferometry (BLI) technology, which uses optical biosensors to measure molecular interactions in parallel, without the use of detection agents. All instruments offer a fluidics-free approach to kinetic characterisation of antibody, protein, and small-molecule binding interactions. These systems enable direct detection of specific proteins and other biomolecules, Sartorius says, even in complex mixtures and unpurified samples like cell culture supernatants and lysates.
“Users of label-free applications in academia and at start-up biotech companies have historically been stuck between choosing to pay a premium for capacity they will never use or to settle for a lower-performance entry level system,” said Payal Khandelwal, Head of Product Management, Protein Analysis, at Sartorius. “The Octet R series is ideal for academic start-up and low volume labs that are looking for affordable, high quality, label-free capabilities without compromising on assay sensitivity. Plus, the flexibility to upgrade when throughput demands increase protects and futureproofs their investment.”
“Octet BLI has been an essential tool for customers developing novel drugs, therapeutics and biosimilars, providing more efficient and flexible assays for biomolecular interaction analysis,” commented Payal. “We listened to our customers and are excited to launch the new Octet R series of instruments with enhanced scalable throughput, assay and sample versatility. Our goal is to deliver innovative products that continually offer higher data quality to improve the outcomes of life science research and development projects.”
The platform circumvents limitations of ELISA and HPLC platforms, the company claims, enabling informed decisions to be made earlier in the development pipeline. Octet systems use standard microplate formats enabling automated binding analysis directly in the plates. Samples can be recovered for further use as sample consumption during analysis is reportedly minimal. The systems offer quantitation and kinetics performance for a range of molecules across a broad dynamic range and a sensitivity to detect molecules as small as 150 Daltons. The instruments can also measure both high- and low-affinity interactions and detect fast binding interactions including protein-small molecule binding.
“With simplicity comes tremendous confidence and freedom to experiment and excel. At Sartorius, our goal is to accelerate research with this new expandable, modular, label free molecular analysis platform,” said Payal. “As evidenced by over 5,000 peer reviewed publications, scientists are getting the results needed to progress research quickly and easily with the combined innovation, support and expertise of Sartorius Octet.”
