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BME MS Defense Seminar

Computer Studies Bldg., Room 209

"Development of Imaging Secretion Cytometry Through the Advancement of Microbubble Arrays"

Presented by: Dana Phelan
Supervised by: Prof. Lisa DeLouise

Abstract: Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are a quickly growing market in the pharmaceutical industry with an estimated compound annual growth rate of 12.2% and a projection estimate to globally reach $122.6 billion by 2019 [1]. In order to produce mAbs efficiently at a scaled-up industrial level, the hybridoma cells secreting the desired mAb with the highest affinity for the epitope and at the highest secretion rate must be quickly identified. It is estimated that on average it takes over 8 years and upwards of $1 billion dollars to develop and bring a new mAb therapeutic to market [2,3]. Current methods using the conventional sandwich ELISA approach and serial dilutions for selecting cells secreting the desired mAb can take weeks to months to complete. Thus, a new method for selecting cells secreting mAbs within a dramatically reduced amount of time would be a very favorable technological advancement for the mAb market.

This thesis will detail the work done on the advancement of a new technology termed Imaging Secretion Cytometry (ISC). Using the already developed microbubble (MB) arrays and selective capture of cell-secreted products within the MB wells, ISC allows for rapid high-content screening of thousands of cells within only a few days, as compared to several weeks to months using the current industry standard techniques. In my thesis work, advancements have been made in enhancing the cell screening throughput by increasing the MB well density, the array size, and improving the imaging and analysis method. Additionally, protocols were developed to simultaneously detect multiple analytes within a single MB well for increased assay versatility. ISC technology has the potential to dramatically change the mAb market by allowing for a quicker and easier discovery process.