SpectraMax L Microplate Reader

ATP-based Cell Viability Assays

Molecular Devices SpectraMax® i3x MultiMode Microplate Reader, in combination with luminescent assays for cell viability and cytotoxicity, provides a sensitive and rapid way to measure the number of viable cells in culture and quantify the cytotoxic effects of experimental treatment.

Learn about the CellTiter-Glo Luminescent Cell Viability Assay and more:

• Luminescent cell viability and cytotoxicity assays on the SpectraMax i3x Multi-Mode Microplate Reader

Chemiluminescent ELISA

Vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGFs) are a family of secreted polypeptides that have been implicated in mammalian vascular development and in disease processes involving abnormal blood vessel growth.

Learn more about chemiluminescent ELISA method using our luminometer and data acquisition and analysis software:

• Chemiluminescent VEGF ELISA Using the SpectraMax L Microplate Luminometer

Cytotoxicity

Cytotoxicity is often measured in response to an experimental treatment or potential drug. Having a way to easily screen cytotoxicity in treated cells is critical to identifying new therapeutic treatments or understanding cellular signaling pathways that affect cell health. Common indicators of cytotoxicity include the ATP level in a cell population and integrity of cellular membranes, both of which can be measured using a variety of microplate-based assays.

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Cytotoxicity Assays

Cytotoxicity is often measured in response to an experimental treatment or potential drug. Having a way to easily screen cytotoxicity in treated cells is critical to identifying new therapeutic treatments or understanding cellular signaling pathways that affect cell health. Common indicators of cytotoxicity include the ATP level in a cell population and integrity of cellular membranes, both of which can be measured using a variety of microplate-based assays.

Learn more about cytotoxicity in cells:

• Cytotoxicity in Cells: Easy Determination Using Lonza ViaLight Plus and ToxiLight BioAssays on the SpectraMax L Microplate Luminometer

ELISA

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) are used to measure the amount of a specific protein, using a microplate format, and results are most often detected via absorbance in the visible wavelength range. Chemiluminescent and fluorescent ELISA formats offer enhanced sensitivity for accurate quantitation of less abundant analytes.

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Luminescence

Learn about luminescence detection – what it is, how it works, and the advantages of luminescence over other detection modes. We’ll cover key luminescence-based assays including dual-luciferase reporter gene, chemiluminescent ELISA, cytotoxicity, and BRET.

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Mycoplasma Monitoring

Mycoplasma, the smallest and simplest of the prokaryotes, are common contaminants of cell cultures. Symptoms of mycoplasma contamination include a reduction in the rate of proliferation and changes in cellular responses, including gene expression

Learn how the MycoAlert Assay and MycoAlert PLUS Assay from Lonza provide a rapid and convenient way to detect viable mycoplasma in cell cultures using a luminescence microplate reader

• MycoAlert Mycoplasma Detection Assays on Molecular Devices Microplate Readers

NanoBRET/BRET

BRET (bioluminescence resonance energy transfer) is a technique for measuring protein-protein or protein-ligand interactions that involves the interaction of a bioluminescent donor and a fluorescent acceptor.

Detection of NanoBRET signals, and analysis of the resulting data, requires sensitive instrumentation and advanced software. Register to learn more:

• Measure p53-MDM2 protein interaction with NanoBRET technology
• NanoBRET Technology on the SpectraMax i3x Multi-Mode Microplate Reader

Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS)

Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) are chemically reactive molecules containing oxygen. In eukaryotes, these molecules are mainly created during aerobic respiration and can cause problems, such as DNA damage and lipid peroxidation, resulting in cellular damage.  

In this application note, we demonstrate how SpectraMax® microplate readers can be used to accurately quantify ROS levels using a luminescence-based assay.

• Measuring reactive oxygen species with SpectraMax microplate readers

Reporter Gene Assay

Reporter gene assays enable researchers to determine whether a gene is expressed and at what level. They are used to study signaling pathways, gene regulation, structure of regulatory elements, and much more. A reporter gene vector consists of a promoter or gene of interest, along with a reporter gene such as firefly luciferase, which codes for a protein whose activity can be easily measured. The vector is transfected into mammalian cells, and when the gene of interest is active in the cells, the reporter gene is also expressed and can be measured using appropriate detection reagents.

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Single/Dual -Luciferase Reporter Gene Assays

Reporter gene assays are important tools for studying gene expression associated with the activation of cellular pathways. Cells are transfected with a plasmid containing the reporter gene and a sequence of interest, typically a promoter or other transcriptional control element. When the promoter is activated, the reporter gene is expressed and its levels can be measured.

Learn more about dual luciferase reporter gene assay:

• Monitor NF-kB activation with a sensitive dual reporter assay on the SpectraMax iD5 microplate reader*
• Detect dual luciferase expression on the FlexStation 3 microplate reader
• Dual-Luciferase assays in 96- and 384-well formats on the SpectraMax L
• Measuring luciferase expression using the SpectraMax Glo Steady-Luc Reporter Assay Kit