HochdurchsatzSpleißanalysen

Hochdurchsatz Screening, often abbreviated as HTS, refers to a method used in drug discovery and biological research to rapidly test a large number of chemical compounds or biological entities for a specific activity. The core principle of HTS is to automate the process of testing thousands or even millions of samples simultaneously, allowing researchers to identify potential drug candidates, biological probes, or other active molecules much more efficiently than traditional screening methods.

This process typically involves miniaturized assays performed in microplate formats, such as 96-well or 384-well plates. Robotic systems are employed to dispense reagents, add samples, and perform measurements, minimizing human intervention and increasing throughput. Detection methods can vary widely depending on the assay, including fluorescence, luminescence, absorbance, or radioactivity.

The data generated from HTS experiments is vast and requires sophisticated computational tools for analysis and interpretation. Hits, or compounds showing the desired activity, are then further validated and optimized through secondary screening and medicinal chemistry efforts. HTS has become an indispensable tool in modern pharmaceutical research, accelerating the identification of novel therapeutics for a wide range of diseases. It also finds applications in fields like agricultural chemistry and materials science.