Streamlining SLC modulator screening with automated pipetting solutions 

Solgate – a biotech start-up based in Klosterneuburg, Austria – is accelerating the development of new therapies targeting solute carrier (SLC) transporters using automated liquid handling systems from INTEGRA Biosciences. This overlooked family of membrane proteins mediates the transport of nutrients, metabolites, signalling molecules and ions across cell membranes, and it is linked to a wide range of diseases, including metabolic conditions, neuropathologies and immune disorders.

Solgate is developing high throughput screening assays to discover and progress small molecules that can down- or up-regulate SLC function, and develop these small molecules into drug candidates. The company has invested in ASSIST PLUS pipetting robots and VIAFLO electronic pipettes to enable rapid, consistent and reproducible liquid handling across multiple projects. “When you're handling hundreds of plates across several pipelines, reproducibility becomes a challenge”, explained Georgi Dimchev, Senior Scientist at Solgate. “Manual pipetting increases the risk of variability, so we automate as many steps as possible to maintain consistency.”

Automation is particularly important for experiments repeated weekly. INTEGRA’s systems ensure consistent reagent delivery and gentle handling of delicate cell layers, helping the team preserve data quality and reproducibility. Ivana Rinklake, Research Associate at Solgate, added: “The ASSIST PLUS systems and VIAFLO pipettes are exactly what we need. Whether you're a start-up or a large lab, these are the kinds of tools that help science move faster, and they have helped us to create a robust screening platform that can grow with the company.”

Visit the INTEGRA Biosciences website to learn more.

About INTEGRA Biosciences

INTEGRA Biosciences is a leading provider of high-quality laboratory tools and consumables for liquid handling. The company is committed to creating innovative solutions which fulfil the needs of its customers in research, diagnostics and quality control within the life sciences markets and medical sector. INTEGRA’s engineering and production teams in Zizers, Switzerland and Hudson, NH, USA, strive to develop and manufacture instruments and consumables of outstanding quality. Today, INTEGRA’s innovative laboratory products are widely used all around the world where they help scientists accelerate scientific discovery. INTEGRA is an ISO 9001 certified company.

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