Drug Titration Studies: Joining the Digital Age

摘要

Determining the relationship between drug concentration and clinical response is a key step in the development of new therapeutics, yet the method for performing these studies remained largely unchanged for much of the 20th century. Recent advances in laboratory liquid handling technologies have led to a significant shift in the way drug titration studies are performed, allowing these investigations to be carried out with lower assay volumes than ever before. Low volume dispensers have caused a significant shift in the way candidate drug characterization is performed, leading to greater standardization and improved reproducibility. By combining drug discovery oriented features and improved experimental consistency with reduced assay volumes, these systems allow data-rich investigations providing researchers with access to previously difficult experimental layouts and increasing productivity. Which instrument offers the best balance of flexibility and throughput depends on the exact requirements of the study, but low volume dispensing systems have the potential to offer a user-friendly and convenient way of designing and setting up titration studies, from standard protocols to one-off investigations.