Recognised in the graphic arts industry for its Prepress, CTP, Software and Digital Printing solutions, Dainippon Screen a multi-faceted company with some surprising divisions. One of these is the recently formed Life Sciences division, whose first step is the development of the Cell3iMager (3D cell imager); a high-speed 3D cell culture scanner capable of measuring and analyzing multiplication and morphological changes in cancer cells grown on 3D cell culture plates, without using a reagent.
Testing methods currently used in 3D cell culturing for cancer research mostly follow the conventional approach and involve first growing the cells and then adding pigments or other reagents and observing any changes. As a result, there are several issues associated with this style of testing, including its labor-intensive nature and the inability to perform follow-up observations on the same cells, because they are destroyed by the reagents.
Thanks to the application of Screen’s proprietary image processing technology, the Cell3iMager system enables rapid measurement and analysis of multiplication and morphological changes in cancer cells grown on 3D culture plates over time. In addition, as no reagent is applied, the same cancer cells can be used to continuously monitor the effects of experimental drugs without destroying the cells.
Screen developed the Cell3iMager, over two years with the cooperation of Dr. Geoffrey Bartholomeusz, University of Texas’ MD Anderson Cancer Centre and Professor Tamio Mizukami, Nagahama Institute of Bio-Science; who describe it as an ‘important step’ in the development of cancer-fighting drugs.
Local Screen Managing Director Peter Scott says: “It’s very gratifying to know the company has moved into Life Sciences with an important tool to be used in researching cures for cancer. I am sure that Screen’s experience in precision scanning and image processing for the graphic arts played a role in the development of the Cell3iMager.”
The Cel3iMager (pictured) will be shown to the world at BioJapan in October. Dainippon Screen is also very active in the Semiconductor Industry, Printable Electronics, Solar Panels, Flat Panel displays and Thin Film manufacturing of rechargeable Lithium-Iron batteries than one day may power our automobiles.
“Prepress and Digital Printing are still very important to Screen,” says Scott, “and R&D can be shared between our divisions. It’s pleasing to be part of a group active in so many other important areas, such as cancer research.”
Dainippon Screen
www.screenaust.com.au
