SAW Instruments GmbH Announces North American Launch of sam®X

Bonn, Germany – 28th November 2011: SAW Instruments, developer of the innovative sam® family of biosensors for real-time, label-free assays using living cells, will launch its new sam®X biosensor in North America at the IBC’s Antibody Engineering and Antibody Therapeutics (AEAT) meeting in San Diego, CA, USA (4-8 December 2011). As part of the launch, SAW will be exhibiting the sam®X at booth #212 and will also present a poster, entitled “Binding Kinetics of Therapeutic Antibodies to Native Proteins on Living Cells”. The high-end sam®X provides several innovative features that further optimise the system for a mammalian cell-based binding assay workflow. These include an expansion in the number of sensor chips to two, increasing the channels available to 8. Each can be addressed by the fluidics individually or in combinations, a factor that also facilitates on-chip immobilisation at each sensor position. The system can be used with unfixed cells in suspension, which are injected afresh for each measurement, or adherent cells grown directly on the sensor chips themselves. Most importantly, assays are completed in mere minutes, enabling accurate real-time kinetics data to be captured.

For more information on the sam® family of biosensors, including the new sam®X, book a personal demonstration at AEAT 2011 in advance by visiting the contact page of the SAW website or by calling the company’s US sales number (toll free) on 1-866-459-2774.

Also, for a limited time only, the sam®X will be available at a special offer introductory price. Visit the SAW Instruments booth to request full details.

Notes on the technology

Surface Acoustic Wave technology is based on the ability of a wave of energy to travel across the surface of a material. Each surface has a typical inherent elasticity affecting the way the energy of the wave dissipates as it travels across the surface of the material being analysed. Thus, the nature of the surface in question, and therefore any changes to it, can be assessed by sensors monitoring the behaviour of the wave as it propagates across the surface. In particular, changes in mass result in alterations to the phase of the wave, whilst viscoelastic and conformational characteristics influence wave amplitude. The technology developed and employed by SAW instruments is capable of accurately interpreting this information in order to provide real time readouts measuring binding and conformational changes in the samples through which the wave passes.

About SAW Instruments GmbH

SAW Instruments GmbH designs, develops and sells biosensor-based laboratory instruments for life sciences research. The proprietary technology of SAW Instruments employs a Surface Acoustic Waves approach to biological measurement, rather than using traditional optical methods such as SPR. The technology is uniquely positioned compared to other biosensor technologies based on its ability to measure conformational changes in cells, membranes and vesicles. In addition, the system is also capable of providing other industry standard measurements including those involving kinetics, quantitation and affinity.

SAW instruments has more than ten years experience in the field of label-free biosensor technology and a number of our customers have successfully published work employing the platform. It is our goal is to continue to build on this experience, as well as to develop a family of workflow-driven products to further meet our customers’ needs.

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