Hochdurchsatzuntersuchungen

Hochdurchsatzuntersuchungen, also known as High-Throughput Screening (HTS), refers to a process in drug discovery and other fields that rapidly tests a large number of biological or chemical samples against a specific target. The primary goal of HTS is to identify compounds or conditions that exhibit a desired activity. This is typically achieved by automating laboratory processes, allowing for the simultaneous testing of thousands to millions of samples.

The process involves several key components. First, a large library of diverse chemical compounds or biological entities is assembled. Second, a specific assay is developed and miniaturized to be compatible with automated liquid handling systems and microplate formats. This assay is designed to detect a particular biological or chemical effect. Third, robotic systems are employed to dispense reagents and samples into the microplates, followed by incubation and detection steps. Finally, sophisticated data analysis software is used to process the vast amount of data generated and identify "hits" – samples showing promising activity.

HTS has revolutionized many areas of scientific research, particularly in the pharmaceutical industry, where it accelerates the identification of potential drug candidates. It is also widely used in academia for exploring biological pathways, identifying novel enzymes, and developing diagnostic tools. The efficiency and scalability of HTS enable researchers to explore chemical and biological space more comprehensively than traditional methods. However, HTS also presents challenges, including the generation of false positives and negatives, and the need for efficient validation of identified hits.