BioPhysical-Solutions was set up as a Data-Generating CRO, to encourage wider utilization of Biophysical approaches in the Life Sciences. Biophysical techniques often exploit label-free observations to detect molecular interactions (binding) and/or conformational changes. Many of the tools are highly specialized, and the data generated may lead to key insights into molecular interactions. However, interpreting results to yield definitive conclusions often benefits from the insight of experts. Thus the initiation of BioPhysical-Solutions.

While initially focusing as a resource for Thermal Stability Analysis (TSA), the toolset being assembled will also include optical measurements, calorimetry, and new and emerging technologies in a laboratory where new technology is applied to investigate biologically relevant problems. One such emerging technology is real-time Fluorescence Lifetime measurements, that adds a new dimension (time) capable of reducing small molecule screening artifacts. For example, using Fluorescence Lifetime to collect thermal stability data has been enabled a reduction in over 20-fold in the amount of protein required (compared to published procedures).

TSA has been used for

• Protein Stability Profiling
• Protein Formulation
• Small molecule (and fragment) HTS
• Targets lacking enzyme activity, such as
  • Inactive proteins (Kinases, pro-forms of proteases)
  • NHRs
  • PPI
  • Structural proteins
  • Proteins of unknown function
• Small Molecule Hit/Lead profiling
  • Rank compounds using a pure Kd, instead of an operational IC50
  • No limit for high affinity compounds…higher affinity = higher delta-Tm
  • Detects binding at analyte concentrations at or above Kd

With permutations, it has been used for membrane proteins and in whole-cell environments (e.g. CESTA).