Cell-based Safety & Viability Assays Cytotoxicity, proliferation and viability
We provide cell-based assays to support early safety assessment, material evaluation, and functional profiling of carbohydrate-containing materials and complex biomolecules.
- Cytotoxicity assays (e.g., MTT, Alamar Blue)
- Clonogenicity assays (longer-term viability and recovery)
- Proliferation assays and time-course profiling
- Apoptosis and cell death readouts (fit-for-purpose formats)
- Assay design and control selection aligned to intended use
Functional & Mechanistic Cell Assays Biology linked to structure
We support functional and mechanistic studies where biological readouts are required to contextualise structural characterisation, including structure–function relationships and batch/source comparisons.
- Cell signalling and pathway assays (fit-for-purpose endpoints)
- Inflammatory marker readouts and cytokine measurements (where appropriate)
- Cell interaction studies involving GAGs and carbohydrate-containing materials
- Comparative functional profiling across variants, sources or batches
- Integration with orthogonal analytics (e.g., NMR/MS/SEC) where helpful
Flow Cytometry, Microscopy & Imaging Quantitative cellular readouts
Quantitative cellular readouts can be delivered using flow cytometry and imaging methods to support mechanistic interpretation and robust comparison across experimental conditions.
- Flow cytometry for phenotype and marker expression (fit-for-purpose panels)
- Fluorescence microscopy and image-based readouts
- Confocal microscopy (where required)
- Cell morphology, uptake and localisation studies (scope-dependent)
- Data reporting with clear gating/imaging documentation where applicable
Molecular Biology & Gene Expression PCR, qPCR and related workflows
Molecular biology workflows can be deployed to support mechanistic studies, pathway interrogation, and confirmation of cellular responses.
- Nucleic acid extraction and quality assessment
- PCR and qPCR for gene expression readouts
- Primer and assay design support (scope-dependent)
- Protein-level confirmation via complementary biochemical assays where appropriate
- Sample handling and traceability aligned to project documentation needs
Project-managed Delivery Coordination, oversight and reporting
Cell and molecular biology work is often part of multi-disciplinary programmes. TKBio provides scientific oversight, coordination and consolidated reporting to ensure that cell-based and molecular outputs align with structural analytics and project objectives.
- Experimental design and control strategy aligned to the decision context
- Clear definition of deliverables, acceptance criteria and reporting format
- Cross-workstream integration with analytical chemistry and glycoscience characterisation
- Fit-for-purpose documentation and traceable data handling