Overview

BLI (Bio-Layer Interferometry) and SPR (Surface Plasmon Resonance) are powerful label-free optical techniques commonly used to study molecular interactions in real-time, with unique features ideal for studying protein binding, quantitation, affinity, and kinetics.

BLI works by analyzing the interference pattern of white light reflected from an immobilized protein layer on the biosensor tip and an internal reference layer. Only molecules binding to or dissociating from the biosensor cause shifts in the interference pattern.

SPR uses polarized light to excite surface plasmons at a metal-dielectric interface, causing a drop in reflected light intensity at a specific angle. When molecules bind to the metal surface, they change the local refractive index, shifting the resonance angle. This shift provides detailed information into binding kinetics and interaction affinity.

BLI vs. SPR

BLI SPR
Common
  • Target-free, Real-time detection
  • Target-free, Real-time detection
Cost
  • Relatively low
  • Relatively high
Instruments
  • Sartorius OctetRED384 (16 channels)
  • Biacore 8K (8 channels)
Samples
  • Sample types: suitable for expression supernatants
  • Buffer compatibility: tolerant to organic reagents
  • Sample recovery: available
  • Sample types: not suitable for crude samples; could detects small molecules (~100 Da)
  • Buffer incompatibility: high refractive index (glycerol, sucrose); amino groups (Tris)
Detection Range
  • Lower sensitivity for low-affinity or hard-to-dissociate samples
  • Comparable results to SPR for moderate affinity (KD µM~nM)
  • High sensitivity and broader affinity detection range
  • Suitable for samples with lower affinity (KD ~µM) and higher affinity (KD ~0.1 nM)

Applications in Antibody Drug Discovery

Gene to Hits
Hits to Leads
Candidates Selection
Discovery & Target
Identification
Hits Screening
Lead Indentifaction
& Validation
Lead Optimization
In vivo & vitro Assays
GLP Tox
0.05mg
500mg
1g
200g
TurboCHO™ HT
TurboCHO™ Express
TurboCHO™ HP/TurboCHO™ Stable

Target Identification

  • Protein-protein interactions
  • Protein-small molecule/natural
    product/extract interactions
  • Protein-DNA/RNA/Peptide interactions

Lead Identification

  • Compound library/clone screening
    (hybridoma, phage display, lysate,
    cell expression supernatant)
  • Affinity/koff ranking
  • Epitope binning

Lead Optimization

  • Fc engineering/humanization
  • FcγRs/FcRn binding activity
  • Epitope mapping

Service Detail

BLI
Price & Timeline Deliverables
Protein expression + BLI HT (1 concentration) 8 days Simplified Report*
Antigen affinity measurement-affinity ranking (1 concentration) Starting from 8 days Analysis Report
Antigen affinity measurement-Kinetics (5 concentrations)
Affinity Ranking to ONE identical antigen (1 concentration)

*Simplified Report: Each antibody is assigned a single data point indicating whether its binding with the antigen is positive, negative, or ambiguous)

SPR
Price & Timeline Deliverables
Antigen affinity measurement-affinity ranking (1 concentration) Starting from 8 days Analysis Report
Antigen affinity measurement-Kinetics (5 concentrations)
Affinity Ranking to ONE identical antigen (1 concentration)

Case Studies

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