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ScreenWorks Software

Customizable protocols and data analysis for high-throughput kinetic screening
Easy-to-use software enabling robust and high-throughput cardiotoxicity screening using the FLIPR Penta system
Bring simplicity to your multi-user environment with unique protocols utilizing ScreenWorks® Software on the FLIPR® Penta High-Throughput Cellular Screening System. The software controls equipment intelligence and instrument motion as well as capturing data for analysis and export during highly kinetic assays. It records the signal from both standard GPCR assays in fluorescent or luminescent format and up to 100 fluorescent images per second during an iPSC cardiomyocyte fast calcium oscillation assay. The optional add-on, Peak Pro 2 software module, enables you to perform advanced peak analysis. It is especially helpful for analysis of iPSC derived cardiomyocyte and neuron calcium oscillation assays.
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Bring simplicity to a multi-user environment
Protocol setup is flexible and user friendly – only relevant options are displayed, based on the installed fluidics and optics hardware, making it easy to choose parameters that are right for each assay.
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Easily capture data for analysis and export
Live and information-rich data in 96-, 384-, or 1536-well plate format is displayed during testing. Specific wells can be grouped for analysis or data export purposes.
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Intuitive, user-friendly software interface
Graphs and tables can be easily copied and pasted into documents, presentations or worksheets, and different reductions can be selected for group statistics, making results readily accessible.

ScreenWorks Software after a basic GPCR calcium flux protocol has been executed. In analysis mode, data grouping and a four parameter curve fit make it possible to quickly calculate the EC50 value from the curve.
Features
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Fluorescent or luminescent read modes
Standard fluorescence or optional aequorin luminescence detection read modes
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Reduced screening time
Simultaneous transfer of 96, 384, or 1536 liquid or cells in suspension
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Versatility
Complex quadrant, multiple aspiration, or dispense liquid handling
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Kinetic reduction
Single or ratiometric kinetic cell-based reading
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Automated protocols
Simple-to-create automation protocols with cell suspension delivery
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Optional Peak Pro 2 software module
Added module with easy signal oscillation anomaly detection
High-throughput early toxicity screening with optional Peak Pro 2 software module
Advanced peak detection and event characterization measurements and analysis functionality are available with the optional Peak Pro 2 software module. This data analysis capability is especially useful with cardiomyocyte and neuronal protocols. The Peak Pro 2 analysis algorithm reduces false detections without the need to condition the raw data using search vectors.
The FLIPR Penta system with high-speed camera (HS EMCCD) option, for monitoring calcium oscillation in response to GPCR and ion channel modulator with Peak Pro 2 software module, allows you to measure and analyze patterns of calcium oscillations before and after treatment of human iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes and neurons. Images can be taken up to 100 times per second. You can analyze patterns using more than 30 parameters.
New safety measures in the drug discovery world, such as the NIH CiPA initiative, have placed added emphasis on early assessment of clinical safety and potential. The instrument hardware flexibility and easy-to-use Peak Pro 2 software module can help you assess and quantitate oscillation patterns consistent with potential cardiotoxicity earlier in the drug discovery process. It is also possible to characterize Ca2+ oscillation patterns in neuronal cells and spheroids. Panel A shows some of the parameters that you can measure. Panel B shows control and two examples of oscillation patterns.
Panel A) Calcium oscillation measurements available in Peak Pro 2 software module. Panel B) Calcium oscillations: Control; E-4031: hERG blocker; Dofetilide: oscillation irregularities.
ScreenWorks Software is part of the FLIPR Penta High-Throughput Cellular Screening System
High-throughput kinetic screening for toxicology and lead compound identification
- High speed, high sensitivity EMCCD camera for both fluorescent and luminescent detection
- Data acquisition of up to 100 Hz
- Peak Pro 2 analysis module with easy oscillation anomaly detection
- Over 30 peak measurement options

FLIPR Penta High-Throughput Cellular Screening System
Latest Resources
Applications of ScreenWorks Software
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Calcium Flux
The evaluation of calcium flux is a long accepted, tried and true measure of cellular activity. Calcium flux can be used as a measurement for a host of cellular processes including neurotransmitter release, GPCR activity, voltage or ligand gated ion channels, and cardiomyocyte beat patterns, among many others. The FLIPR Penta System is the drug discovery tool for evaluation of calcium flux in high and ultra-high throughput due to its ease of use, sensitivity and user configurability.
Cardiomyocyte screening
Early prediction of drug-induced functional cardiotoxicity requires robust in vitro systems suitable for high-throughput screening. Readily-available iPSC-derived human cardiomyocytes may be used in conjunction with calcium-sensitive dyes, and beat rates are monitored as changes in intracellular calcium. These calcium peaks can be analyzed with our ScreenWorks PeakPro software which provides the investigator a suite of powerful tools for quantification of cardiomyocyte activity.
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Cardiotoxicity
Cardiotoxicity or cardiac toxicity is a term used to define chemicals that are toxic to the heart, causing muscle damage or heart electrophysiology dysfunction.
The assessment of cardiotoxicity is important in the early stages of drug discovery to eliminate potentially toxic compounds from further development.
GPCRs (G protein-coupled receptors)
GPCRs or G protein-coupled receptors are proteins located on the cell surface that recognize extracellular substances and transmit signals across the cell membrane. GPCRs do this by activating guanine nucleotide-binding proteins (G protein) that are responsible for signal transduction inside the cell.
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Ion Channel
Ion channels are pores in the cellular membrane that allow the passage of ions across the impermeant lipid cell membrane. The flow of calcium, potassium, and sodium is very important in many cellular processes such as muscle contraction in the heart, pancreatic insulin release, the transmission of impulses in the nervous system such as pain, and T cell activation.
Membrane Potential
There are dozens of identified disorders caused by impaired ion channel function. Ion channels are important drug discovery targets because they are highly druggable and specific. The FLIPR® Membrane Potential Assay Kits provide a fast, simple and reliable fluorescence-based assay for detecting changes in voltage across the cell membrane mediated by ion channel to evaluate target or off-target effects based on the application.
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Neuronal assays
The FLIPR Penta System is an excellent tool for monitoring calcium flux related to neuronal activity. Newly developed commercially available iPSC neurons have made high-throughput neuronal screening a reality. These cells and assays are essential for monitoring a variety of factors including neural cell culture conditions, drug compound effects, and the effect of environmental neurotoxins. Neuronal activity and neurotransmitter release can be evaluated with fluorescence-based calcium indicator dyes combining fast, simple, and powerful assays with scalable throughput.
Potassium Assays
The majority of ion channel drug discovery solutions focus on potassium channels since they are the most prevalent type of ion channel, functioning in cardiac muscle action and hormone release. Potassium assay kits can be used to measure the effect of drug molecules on thallium transport through the potassium channel as a surrogate for potassium channel activity.
Potassium assay resources:
Resources of ScreenWorks Software
Brochure
ScreenWorks Software
ScreenWorks Software
Bring simplicity to your multi-user environment with unique protocols utilizing ScreenWorks® Software on the FLIPR® Penta High-Throughput Cellular Screening System. The software cont…
Publications
Advanced Cell Screening and Imaging Reveals How the Cardiac System Responds in Drug Development
Advanced Cell Screening and Imaging Reveals How the Cardiac System Responds in Drug Development
In drug discovery, time and monetary investments increase significantly the further candidates advance through the preclinical phase of testing, analysis and evaluation. By excluding…
Publications
Neuroscience: bridging the gap between cell-based and human research
Neuroscience: bridging the gap between cell-based and human research
Neurological disorders impact up to a billion people around the world and appear to be on the rise [1]. In fact, those affecting the central and peripheral nervous systems – includin…
Application Note
Phenotypic characterization of neuroactive compound effects
Phenotypic characterization of neuroactive compound effects
The FLIPR Penta system is powered by a high-speed EMCCD camera and the new ScreenWorks Peak Pro 2 software. The system allows measurement and analysis of complex patterns of calcium…
Scientific Poster
Multiplexed automated assays for neurotoxicity evaluation using induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neural 3D cell models
Multiplexed automated assays for neurotoxicity evaluation using induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neural 3D cell models
Cell-based phenotypic assays have become an increasingly attractive alternative to traditional in vitro and in vivo testing in pharmaceutical drug development and toxicological safet…
Scientific Poster
Complex event analysis for neurotoxic profiling of compound effects on human iPSC-derived neural spheroid 3D cultures
Complex event analysis for neurotoxic profiling of compound effects on human iPSC-derived neural spheroid 3D cultures
To speed up the development of more effective and safer drugs, there is an increasing need for more complex, biologically relevant and predictive cell-based assays for drug discovery…
Application Note
Multi-parametric assessment of compound-induced pro-arrhythmic effects in human iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes
Multi-parametric assessment of compound-induced pro-arrhythmic effects in human iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes
Development of biologically relevant, predictive cell-based assays for compound screening and toxicity assessment is a major challenge in drug discovery.
Scientific Poster
Multi-parametric assessment of compound-induced pro-arrhythmic effects in human iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes
Multi-parametric assessment of compound-induced pro-arrhythmic effects in human iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes
Development of biologically relevant and predictive cell-based assays for compound screening and toxicity assessment is a major challenge in drug discovery
Application Note
Measure Calcium Oscillation in iCell Cardiomyocytes2 on the FLIPR Tetra System
Measure Calcium Oscillation in iCell Cardiomyocytes2 on the FLIPR Tetra System
Shorten growth timelines when screening compound effects on calcium transients in beating cardiomyocytes by using the iCell® Cardiomyocytes2 Kit (Cellular Dynamics International).…
Infographic
FLIPR Tetra® System
FLIPR Tetra® System
Install pipettors in minutes without tools. Pipetting accuracy and precision are assured with automatic pipettor identification and alignment.
Application Note
Assessment of drug effects on cardiomyocyte physiology using human iPSC-derived cardiac spheroids
Assessment of drug effects on cardiomyocyte physiology using human iPSC-derived cardiac spheroids
Cell models are becoming more complex in order to better mimic in vivo microenvironments and provide greater predictivity for compound efficacy and toxicity. There is an increasing…
Application Note
Measuring GPCR Activity Using the Tango GPCR Assay on the FLIPR Tetra Fluorimetric Imaging Plate Reader System
Measuring GPCR Activity Using the Tango GPCR Assay on the FLIPR Tetra Fluorimetric Imaging Plate Reader System
The FLIPR Tetra System has long been used for uHTS and HTS of fast-kinetic GPCR and ion channel assays. The limitations of current microplate readers with respect to format and…
Application Note
Live cell Gi- and Gs -coupled GPCR second messenger signaling on the FLIPR Tetra System
Live cell Gi- and Gs -coupled GPCR second messenger signaling on the FLIPR Tetra System
In this application protocol we demonstrate the use of the modified luminescent firefly luciferase-based Promega GloSensor™ cAMP Assay on the FLIPR Tetra® High Throughput Cellular…
Application Note
High throughput cardiotoxicity assays using stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes
High throughput cardiotoxicity assays using stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes
Eliminate cardiotoxic compounds and identify potential cardiac drug candidates earlier in the drug discovery process with the FLIPR Tetra System, together with ScreenWorks Peak Pro…
Application Note
Compound effects upon calcium transients in beating Axiogenesis Cor.4U human iPS cell-derived cardiomyocytes
Compound effects upon calcium transients in beating Axiogenesis Cor.4U human iPS cell-derived cardiomyocytes
The assessment of cardiotoxicity is important in the early stages of drug discovery to enable elimination of potentially toxic compounds from further development. This is critical to…


CiPA initiative and validation of high-throughput methods to characterize compound effects in human iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes on the FLIPR Penta system
ScreenWorks Software
Ordering information | Part Number |
ScreenWorks Software Site License® | 0320-0392 |
ScreenWorks Peak Pro 1 Software module for Screenworks 5.x Software | 5075630 |
ScreenWorks Peak Pro 2 Software module | 5074843 |
ScreenWorks Peak Pro 1 Software module for Screenworks 4.2 Software and lower | 5016900 |
*The host pc that ships with the Flipr Penta system is preinstalled with Screenworks 5.x Software. One license of Screenworks 5.x Software supports five installations, including one for the host PC controlling the Flipr Penta system, and four for data analysis PCs.
**Peak Pro 2 software module is only compatible with Screenworks 5.x software and above. A 14-day trial is included with Screenworks Software.
Related Products & Services of ScreenWorks Software

Calcium Flux
The evaluation of calcium flux is a long accepted, tried and true measure of cellular activity.…

Cardiomyocyte screening
Early prediction of drug-induced functional cardiotoxicity requires robust in vitro systems…

Cardiotoxicity
Cardiotoxicity or cardiac toxicity is a term used to define chemicals that are toxic to the heart,…

GPCRs (G protein-coupled receptors)
GPCRs or G protein-coupled receptors are proteins located on the cell surface that recognize…

Ion Channel
Ion channels are pores in the cellular membrane that allow the passage of ions across the…

Membrane Potential
There are dozens of identified disorders caused by impaired ion channel function. Ion channels are…

Neuronal assays
The FLIPR Penta System is an excellent tool for monitoring calcium flux related to neuronal…

Potassium Assays
The majority of ion channel drug discovery solutions focus on potassium channels since they are the…
How can we help advance your next big discovery?
Our highly-qualified teams are on the frontlines with our customers, conducting remote or on-site product demonstrations, webinars, and more to help you solve your tough research challenges. How can we help you today?
I’d like to…
How can we help advance your next big discovery?
Our highly-qualified teams are on the frontlines with our customers, conducting remote or on-site product demonstrations, webinars, and more to help you solve your tough research challenges. How can we help you today?
I’d like to…