How MSD Assays Are Revolutionizing Drug Discovery and Development

MSD Assays

Several assays to measure drug development endpoints are widely available. These assay formats include ELISA assays, RT-PCR, western blotting, etc. Measuring bioanalytical endpoints is critical to optimizing drug compounds and translating them into clinical research and subsequent marketing. However, when it comes to efficiency, accuracy, and sensitivity, Meso Scale Discovery assays have proven beneficial in accelerating drug development programs. The Meso Scale Discovery (MSD) assay platform includes multiple assay kits to measure levels of specific analytes in single-volume samples. The current article dives deep into MSD mesoscale assays and their role in drug discovery and development.

MSD technologies for accelerating drug discovery and development

MSD has proprietary technology to measure analytes in complex study samples. MSD ELISA technology can profile analytes such as intracellular signaling molecules and cytokines, impacting drug discovery and improving human health. This technology combines electrochemiluminescence detection and multi-array technology to offer enhanced sensitivity and multiplex capacities.

MSD assays are similar to ELISA, except they use electrochemiluminescence detection as opposed to colorimetric reaction. Multiplex MSD assays can be employed for:

• Bioanalysis of drug concentration
• Immunogenicity assessments
• Biomarker analysis
• MSD cytokine evaluations

Working on MSD assays

The MSD platform employs electrochemiluminescence detection via parallel processing and offers quantitative measures of the target analytes in complex biological matrices. They have over 500 assay panels, reagent kits, and custom panels for a broad range of protein analyses. Besides, for analytes not already validated, they offer customized solutions for your analyte of interest. These features enable researchers to include biomarker discovery early during drug discovery through customized solutions to increase translational research.

Advantages of MSD technology

MSD’s novel technology offers greater precision, sensitivity, and reproducibility in quantification. These benefits are coupled with lower costs and faster turnaround times than conventional immunoassays. Besides, multiplexing capacities allow the simultaneous analysis of up to 10 analytes in a single well. The ready-to-use MSD panels include oncology, cytokines and chemokines, cardiovascular, bone metabolism, inflammation, intracellular signaling, toxicology, neurodegeneration, immunology, growth factors, and many more.

Must Read: The Role of Assay Testing in Clinical Diagnostics

Electrochemiluminescence

Electrochemiluminescence detection delivers a unique combination of dynamic range, convenience, and enhanced sensitivity. This detection unit generates reliable and high-quality data in multiple sample types, making it suitable for several biological assay needs. When stimulated through electrical current, electrochemiluminescent labels generate light under appropriate chemical environments. This reaction is present in all MSD assays.

The primary advantages of electrochemiluminescence detection include:

• High sensitivity
• Broad dynamic range
• Low background noise
• Flexibility
• Easy to use
• Enhanced quality and performance

Multi-array technology

Multi-array system combines arrays and electrochemiluminescence detection to deliver rapid and highly dense data to biological assays. This technology is combined with multi-spot plates to deliver precise quantification of several analytes in a single sample volume.

Multi-array technology has several advantages. It conserves samples by multiplexing several analytes in low sample volumes. Multi-array technology achieves speed and sensitivity comparable to traditional single-analyte assays with precision and speed across a broad dynamic range. Besides, it can measure native biomarker levels in disease and normal samples without multiple dilutions.

Instruments

MSD instruments use multi-array systems to offer reliability and performance. These technologies are available for clinical researchers and basic life science experiments, offering systems to accommodate every research application, environment, and budget. The Discovery Workbench software is designed to acquire and study assay data using multiple instruments.

Immunoassays

MSD immunoassay technology offers unmatched performance and customer satisfaction. MSD immunoassays are available for a broad range of applications. Additionally, the MSD platform removes several technical difficulties associated with traditional platforms while offering higher accuracy, sensitivity, reliability, and simpler workflows. Multi-spot panels enhance these benefits by quantifying analytes in a single reaction volume.

Most MSD assays are sandwich formats developed for measuring molecules in complex study matrices. These assays are available in 96 and 384 well plates. Besides, they can be multiplexed for enhanced sample processing. Researchers detect the target biomolecules using Sulfo-tag-conjugated molecules using sensitive MSD instruments.

In sandwich MSD assays, similar to ELISA assays, the assay plates are coated with a capture antibody to attach the target antigen. Then, a secondary antibody conjugated to an enzyme binds with the target antigen. In MSD assays specifically, the capture antibody is attached to an electrode at the bottom of the well. Also, the secondary antibody is conjugated to a ruthenium metal ion. After the antigen and secondary antibodies bind, the ruthenium ion close to the electrode triggers a reaction that produces a light signal for the CCD camera.

What is next for Meso Scale Discovery assay in drug discovery and development?

MSD assays are robust technologies for quantifying analytes in complex biological matrices. Through comprehensive investigations, researchers can increase the translatability of drug compounds from early discovery to clinical stages. Using several technologies combined with appropriate readouts, scientists can enhance their drug development projects with deep expertise in MSD assay technology. However, adequate efforts will be crucial in initial method development and validation to instill confidence in the generated results.