Evaluation of cellular toxicity of new compounds developed for CNS indications
Mentor 1
Alexander Arnold
Location
Union Wisconsin Room
Start Date
5-4-2019 1:30 PM
End Date
5-4-2019 3:30 PM
Description
Investigators in the chemistry department are developing new compounds for various CNS indication such as depression, anxiety, and neuropathic pain. The importance of my work is to determine at what concentrations these compounds are harmful to cells. This information helps to identify non-toxic compounds that will be further investigated in vivo. Therefore, I’m culturing human kidney cells (HEK 293) in the presence of CO2 and at 37 degrees Celsius. Periodically, I have to loosen the cells from the flask using trypsin followed by a dilution of cells and further incubation. For the viability assay, I’m placing the cell into a 384 well cell culture plate, followed by the addition of 400 nl of a compound. The cells are incubated at 37 degrees Celsius for two days with different compound concentrations. 20 microliters of Cell Titer Glo solution is then added to break down the cells and quantify the amount of ATP by luminescence. Several compounds have been tested so far. One compound was found to be toxic at high concentration. Other compounds show no toxicity at concentrations up to 240 micromolar. These results can then be used to determine what a therapeutic dose can be used in vivo.
Evaluation of cellular toxicity of new compounds developed for CNS indications
Union Wisconsin Room
Investigators in the chemistry department are developing new compounds for various CNS indication such as depression, anxiety, and neuropathic pain. The importance of my work is to determine at what concentrations these compounds are harmful to cells. This information helps to identify non-toxic compounds that will be further investigated in vivo. Therefore, I’m culturing human kidney cells (HEK 293) in the presence of CO2 and at 37 degrees Celsius. Periodically, I have to loosen the cells from the flask using trypsin followed by a dilution of cells and further incubation. For the viability assay, I’m placing the cell into a 384 well cell culture plate, followed by the addition of 400 nl of a compound. The cells are incubated at 37 degrees Celsius for two days with different compound concentrations. 20 microliters of Cell Titer Glo solution is then added to break down the cells and quantify the amount of ATP by luminescence. Several compounds have been tested so far. One compound was found to be toxic at high concentration. Other compounds show no toxicity at concentrations up to 240 micromolar. These results can then be used to determine what a therapeutic dose can be used in vivo.
